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but, so far as I can ascertain, it appears to inhabit only the mainland of Greece, the Redleg of 

 the islands being Caccabis chukar — unless the bird which inhabits the Ionian Islands, of which I 

 have not been able to examine a specimen, is, as suggested to me by Lord Lilford, the present 

 species. Canon Tristram possesses an example of C. samtilis from the mainland of Greece ; and 

 I am indebted to Lord Lilford for the loan of his specimens from Cyprus, which are all referable 

 to the eastern species. As a rule the coloration of the throat has been held to be a distinctive 

 character : but tbis cannot be depended on ; for I find that the specimens of C. chukar brought 

 from Cyprus by Lord Lilford are, with one exception, nearly as white-throated as examples from 

 Italy, but they have the feathers at the base of the bill in front of the eye white, and are 

 undoubtedly referable to the eastern species. There is no doubt that the Eed-legged Partridge 

 which is found near Constantinople is not the present species, but Caccabis chukar ; so that this 

 latter bird certainly occurs in Europe proper. 



In its habits the present species differs considerably from its allies; and, as its German 

 name of Steinhuhn or Eock-chick clearly indicates, it affects the stony serrated portions of the 

 mountains in preference to the fruitful valleys and lowlands inhabited by the common Redleg 

 and Barbary Partridge. Bailly says (Orn. de la Sav. iii. p. 469) that it " is found in arid rocky 

 elevated localities, especially those which are difficult of access, and only descends to the plains 

 or to the lower portions of the mountains during the time when its home is covered with snow, 

 or when driven down by severe cold, and is very rarely seen away from the higher portions of 

 the mountains during the breeding-season, When driven from its home by birds of prey or 

 by sportsmen it will descend, but after the lapse of a few hours will pass from height to height 

 until it reaches the most elevated localities. 



" They pair in the month of March, and are extremely passionate and amorous. The males 

 challenge each other with loud cries, and will fight with the greatest fury for the possession 

 of a female, who becomes the prize of the conqueror. Quarrelsome and jealous to a degree, 

 they will sometimes fight with such perseverance and so blindly that they lose sight of all 

 caution, and may be shot down with ease. The call-note of the male resembles the syllables 

 Kakabi kakabet uttered several times in quick succession ; and it is varied by a note like the 

 words cok, cok, cokrro, likewise repeated. By imitating their call-note or that of the female they 

 may not only be easily approached within range, but frequently come to the gunner who is in 

 ambush calling them." 



Its flight is heavier and effected with more noise than that of the common Partridge ; and it 

 seldom flies long distances, but soon drops on to the ground and seeks safety on foot, running 

 with great swiftness, and concealing itself amongst the stones or herbage. Naumann says that 

 in Switzerland the present species is said occasionally to seek safety by concealing itself amongst 

 the dense foliage of the fir trees. 



As a rule it is a very tame and unsuspicious bird, easy to catch or shoot, and equally easy to 

 tame ; but, as above stated, it is quarrelsome to a degree during the breeding-season. 



Its food consists of seeds of various kinds, tender shoots of herbs, and birds, and during the 

 summer to a large extent of insects of all kinds, coleoptera, grasshoppers, flies, ants, and ant- 

 larvae, as well as the larvae of many other kinds of insects. Should grain of any kind be planted 

 in the vicinity of the locality they inhabit, they pay frequent visits to the fields and take their 



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