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" I have often seen them among the rough grass and bents close to the sea-shore. One bird 

 in particular, I remember, for a long time frequented a patch of thick herbage near the mouth 

 of the ' First River ;' and whenever I rode by, my dog used to flush it, till at last one day, wanting 

 a specimen, I went purposely to shoot the bird ; but, of course, upon this occasion my friend was 

 not to be found, nor did I again see one there for some months. 



"They are scarce between Algeciraz and Tarifa, but occur towards Vejer, and are tolerably 

 plentiful on the palmetto-covered high ground above Casa Vieja, called La Mesa ; further than 

 this I did not meet with it personally ; nor could I obtain any near Seville." 



According to Salvadori it has only once occurred in Italy, a specimen having been sold in 

 the market at Nice; but in Sicily it appears to be common, for Lord Lilford writes (Ibis, 1875, 

 p. 24) as follows : — " I believe, from information obtained from Professor Doderlein, that Sicily is 

 certainly the headquarters of the Hemipode in Europe, as he told me, and states in his recently 

 published work on the ornithology of Sicily, that he had often shot from ten to fifteen specimens 

 in one day in the neighbourhood of Alicata, Girgenti, and Sciacca. I certainly never heard of a 

 similar abundance in any part of Spain." On reference to Professor Doderlein's work I find that 

 while, with the single exception of a specimen obtained near Palermo, this species is not known in 

 the northern portion of the island, in the southern districts, especially about Licator, Terranova, 

 Girgenti, Sciacca, Mazzara, &c, it is common and resident, no migration being ever noticed; but 

 it is more easily found in September and October, when in coveys, being a solitary bird at other 

 times. It prefers uncultivated and undulating ground covered with thick herbage and scrub, such 

 as Arundo ampelodesmos and Camerops humilis, and is also to be found by the side of sluggish 

 streams. It is slow to take flight, and does not remain long on the wing, preferring to trust to its 

 feet ; for it is an excellent runner. It does not appear to occur in Sardinia. 



Eastward of the above localities the Hemipode does not appear to have been met with north 

 of the Mediterranean ; but in North Africa it ranges as far east as Egypt, where it is very rare. 

 Von Heuglin says that he only observed it in the western portion of the district visited by him, 

 viz. in the vicinity of Beni Ghazi, but he thinks that he saw one in the province of Schergieh, in 

 Lower Egypt. In North-west Africa, however, it is common and resident. Mr. Taczanowski 

 says that he met with it in Algeria, frequenting localities covered with small bushes close to 

 mountains ; and all the collectors who have visited that country appear to have met with it in 

 suitable localities. M. Favier says (fide Colonel Irby, I. c.) that it is " both resident and migra- 

 tory in the vicinity of Tangier, and a much less common bird than the ordinary Quail (Coturnix 

 vulgaris) ; those which migrate pass northward during May and June, and are seen on the return 

 passage in September and October." So far as I can ascertain, there does not appear to be any 

 record of its occurrence further south than Morocco. 



In habits the present species appears to differ considerably from the common Quail. The 

 best account I can find of its habits is from the pen of Major Loche, who says that it is 

 monogamous, and inhabits localities which are covered with bushes and dwarf palms. It is 

 unsociable, caring but little for the society of others of its own species; hence it is usually 

 seen alone ; and in its general habits it is wild and shy. It runs more than it flies ; and as soon 

 as it perceives a sportsman it takes refuge amongst the dense bushes, whence it is almost 

 impossible to dislodge it, especially when it has once been flushed. It will sooner allow itself 



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