. Egyptian birds : for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . seem to usethis old roadway as their regular feeding-ground,for there, owing to the passage of caravans back-wards and forwards, they find a perpetual sourceof food from the frequent droppings. Their move-ments were so quick and their little bodies soround and plump that, even with my glass onthem, I could not settle the colour of their legs,till I got a closer inspection of those in the CairoZoological Gardens. As they run they utter alittle cheery sort of cheej), cheep call, and thewhole party seem always happy, if not in boister
. Egyptian birds : for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . seem to usethis old roadway as their regular feeding-ground,for there, owing to the passage of caravans back-wards and forwards, they find a perpetual sourceof food from the frequent droppings. Their move-ments were so quick and their little bodies soround and plump that, even with my glass onthem, I could not settle the colour of their legs,till I got a closer inspection of those in the CairoZoological Gardens. As they run they utter alittle cheery sort of cheej), cheep call, and thewhole party seem always happy, if not in boisterousspirits, which, when one considers the hardness oftheir life in these sterile wastes, seems somewhatremarkable. Grain and seeds are their staple food,but I distinctly saw one once and again make adart at some passing insect, and no doubt here, asat home, they love the ants eggs that must exist,as ants are ever present with you in this hot desertcountry. As far as my own notes go, 1 do notthink they ever come down even to the outskirts HEYS SAND-PARTRIDGE. 1 SAND PARTRIDGE 101 of the cultivation, but keep exclusively to the sand(possibly in spring or summer they may approachnearer to the haunts of man, but I have noevidence), which makes the fact of their being,as it is alleged they are, exceedingly good eating,very remarkable, for one would be disposed tothink they would be thin, tough, and tasteless. Ihave it on good authority, that as a game-birdfor the table, they are far to be preferred to ourown Partridge, being, though small, very plumpand of a fine game flavour. All Partridges seempeculiar in doing well on very little—at homeone often wonders during a hard winter at theirsurviving at all—for they are never fed like thepampered Pheasants, and not only do they survive,but they seem to carry as much flesh when shotin a hard winter as they do in September whengrain lies scattered in profusion on every one has praised its seeming happy wayof living, no
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