99 



Elwes and Buckley say (Ibis, 1870, p. 328) that on the islands of Imbros and Lemnos, off the 

 entrance of the Dardanelles, it is so numerous that, as they were assured by a well-known 

 sportsman at Constantinople, fifty brace might with ease be bagged by a good shot at the end of 

 August. These gentlemen did not see or hear of it in Bulgaria ; but Messrs. Alleon and Vian 

 state (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1873, p. 261) that the species which occurs near Constantinople is 

 true C. clmkar ; and they describe a specimen, clearly giving the distinguishing characters. They 

 add that it is resident near Constantinople. In Asia Minor it is said to be common in suitable 

 localities; and I have specimens obtained near Smyrna. Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine, 

 where it is, he says, the Partridge of the country. I have examined examples obtained by him 

 there which are undoubtedly true C. chukar, but are a trifle paler than specimens from the Greek 

 islands. Mr. Wyatt did not often met with it in the peninsula of Sinai, where, he says, it is 

 restricted in its habitat, keeping to the higher wadys; and he further writes (Ibis, 1870, p. 16) 

 as follows : — " It frequents the highest parts of the mountains in the neighbourhood of Jebel 

 Musa ; it also occurs near Serbal, I believe, though I never met with it there myself. I found 

 it much more common on the highlands of Edom and at Petra than in the peninsula." It is, 

 Mr. Blanford informs me, " widely distributed in Persia, at all elevations up to 10,000 feet, 

 keeping to hills, especially those covered with small bushes, and often found in large coveys. I 

 have seen at least twenty together in August on the Elburz. The flesh is usually rather dry and 

 less well flavoured than that of other Partridges." And in a note furnished to Mr. Blanford, 

 and lent to me by that gentleman, Major St. John writes as follows: — "I have shot this bird at 

 all elevations from 10,000 feet in the Elburz to the base of the hills near Bushire. In the wild 

 moorland country which fringes the oak-forests of Fars on the north, it is especially abundant. 

 I have killed twelve and a half brace before breakfast in September near the Khan-i-zinian 

 caravanserai, twenty-five miles west of Shiraz. Contrary to what is recorded of its habits in the 

 Himalayas, it avoids cultivation in Persia." 



It is stated by Mr. Hume to be common in Sindh. This gentleman writes (Stray Feathers, 

 i. p. 226) as follows: — "The Sindh Chukore, though not specifically separable, is a great deal 

 paler than that found in Kumaon, the valleys of the Jumna, Ganges, Sutlej, and Beas, so far as 

 these lie within the hills, and the lower of the intermediate hill-ranges. As we travel further 

 west an intermediate type of colouring is noticeable ; and, as a rule; the birds from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Murdan, though quite as dark on the upper surface and vent &c, are much paler, 

 in fact almost as pale as the Sindh birds, so far as the general tone of colour is concerned. The 

 Sindh birds closely resemble the race from Ladak, which I designated (Lahore to Yarkand) 

 pallescens ; but that bird is characterized by its larger and stronger bill, and by the almost entire 

 absence of any rufous tinge on the crown, occiput, and nape ; whereas in the Sindh birds the 

 bills run slightly smaller than those of the common Himalayan form, and there is a decided 

 rufous tinge on the occiput and nape. It is found throughout the rocky hills that divide the 

 Punjab from Afghanistan and Khelat and the latter from Sindh." I reproduce these data 

 respecting the Sindh bird as given by Mr. Hume, but may add that I quite agree with him that 

 there is no specific distinction between these pale and dark races of the Chukor Partridge, as 

 every intermediate variety is to be found. In India, Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. p. 565), 

 it is found throughout the western Himalayas, from the lowest range to the snows, and passing 



