AMMOPERDIX BONHAMI .
Bonham’s Sand Partridge.
Caccabis Bonhami, G. R . Gray, Ann. and Mag. N a t. Hist., vol. xi. p. 372.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii.
p. 508, Caccabis, sp. 7.
Perdix Bonhami, Fraser in Proc. o f Zool. Soc., P a rt XI. p. 70.— Ib. Zool. Typ., pi. 6 1.
griseo-gularis, Brandt, Bull, des Sei. St. Petersb., vol. x. p. 27.
S e v e r a l individuals of this interesting species of Partridge were procured a t Teheran in 1842 by Edward
W. Bonham, Esq., H.M. Agent at Tabreez in Persia, and were subsequently presented by that gentleman to
the Zoological Society o f London, in whose Gardens they lived for some time. The Society has also
received a collection o f birds from Keith E. Abbott, Esq., obtained by him in the south of Persia, among
which is a fine male specimen with a label attached, on which is written “ Teehoo or Diminutive Partridge
of Persia. Shot near Neyruz, 9th Feb. 1850. Abounds in stony dry rocky g ro u n d ;” and I find a specimen
in the collection made by Lord Gifford in T h ib e t: we have therefore ample evidence that it enjoys a very
wide range, and it is very probable that it extends over the whole of Persia, Thibet, and the neighbouring
countries.
The species was named almost simultaneously both by Mr. G. R. Gray and Mr. Fraser in honour of the
gentleman who first sent it to E u ro p e; Mr. Gray’s description, however, has the advantage of a slight priority.
The Ammoperdix Bonhami is nearly allied to, but exceeds th e ^ . Heyi in size, and the male may always be
distinguished from the male of that species by the spotted markings on the sides of the neck: on the other
hand, the females o f the two species much resemble each other, while they differ very considerably from
their respective m ates: a marked difference is also observable in the colouring of the legs o f the two species;
those of A . Bonliami being olive, while those of A . Heyi are yellow.
Mr. Blyth informs us that “ it inhabits rocky places covered here and there with brushwood, feeds much
on wild-thyme, is found in coveys, and when sprung rises with a startling noise like the Bush Quails (genus
Perdicula). Sportsmen reckon it very easy to kill, and it is said to be delicious eating : the name Seesee
expresses its call. Fine specimens were prepared by Capt. Duncan of the 43rd Regiment o f N. I., who
also brought living examples from Afghanistaun, and kept one of them alive up to the time of his departure
to England in the beginning o f 1845.”
The male has the general colour isabella brown, numerously banded and freckled with dusky; crown of
the head g r e y ; rump and upper tail-coverts speckled with black, the speckles consisting o f three small irregular
spots down the centre o f the apical portion of each feather; forehead and line over the eye deep
black; broad line behind the eye white, terminating in rufous; beneath this line another line of black; lores
wh ite; throat greyish white; breast delicate g rey ; on the side of the neck a transverse patch of bluish grey,
with numerous oblong spots of white and a few specks of black ; flank feathers rufous, isabella brown and
white, margined with black; primaries pale brown, all but the first barred on their outer webs with whitish ;
tail cinnamon, tips paler and freckled with black ; bill and nostrils flesh-colour; legs and feet olive.
In the female the black marks of the head in the male are replaced by freckled marks o f black and w hite;
the general colouring is more g re y ; the freckling on the wings larger and more distinct; the marks on the
lower p art of the back less s o ; and the flanks light brown conspicuously freckled with black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.