towards noon-day dusting itself, fowl-like, in the dry, finely pulverized
soil, every now and then uttering a low double chirp. In
such places, too, when the sun is hot, it will be met with basking
in the little hollows that it has scraped in the ground. In fact,
I have sometimes found it basking thus, quite in the open,
though surrounded at short distances by bushes.
It is one of the least pugilistic of game birds, is easily caught
in Quail nets, and very soon becomes extremely tame. It makes
a very gentle and affectionate pet, and even though five or six of
different sexes may be confined together, they always seem to
live in perfect harmony.
T H E PAINTED PARTRIDGE is a permanent resident, and
breeds pretty well wherever it occurs, although it no doubt
changes its ground a little in its own particular neighbourhood,
as the supply of food varies.
Its nest is placed on the ground, usually under the shelter of
a thick tussock of grass, or some dense bush, but at times under
an overhanging rock, and not uncommonly it is in the midst of
standing crops, particularly sugarcane. It is a saucer-shaped depression
in the soil, scratched out by the birds, and more or less
thinly or thickly lined with dry grass, roots or sugarcane leaves—
in fact whatever material of this nature may be most readily
available.
The nest is not easily found without the aid of dogs; and the
female sits so close, that you may pass within a yard of her,
when on the nest, without her moving.
Five to eight eggs are, I believe, the full complement ; but I
have heard people talk of finding ten and twelve in a nest.
The laying season lasts in different localities from the end of
June to nearly the end of September, but the majority of eggs
are, I believe, laid in August.
Writing from Amrdoti (Berar), Mr. J. Aitken says:—"The
Painted Partridge breeds during the monsoon. Shortly after
the commencement of the rains, the birds may be heard calling
loudly all over the fields, which are then covered with the young
crops ; and the greatest number of eggs are laid during the
months of August and September. The nest is usually to be
found in strips or isolated patches of grass and bush between
cultivated fields. Five is the largest number of eggs which I
have known to be found in one nest."
Writing from Jhansi, whence he sent me many of their eggs,
Mr. F R. Blewitt remarked:—"This species breeds from the
middle of Juiy to September. The nest, which is usually
placed on the ground in a slight excavation and under the shelter
of a bush or thick patch of grass, is made of roots of grass
and grass itself loosely put together,—quite a common made
nest.
" The regular number of eggs is about seven or eight, in colour
of a smoky white general!)', but when fresh-laid they are of a
light reddish white, gradually changing to smoky white as
incubation proceeds.
" From the moment they leave the eggs, the young brood
commence their peculiar cricket-like chirrup, and when they run
it is not with the head erect, but inclined forward on a level
with the body."
The eggs of this species are like those of the common Franco/
in, typically very broad and obtuse at the large end and much
pointed towards the small end. They are, however, even more
of the peg-top shape than these latter, the large end being flatter
and less spherical. In size they are very much smaller than
those of the Common Black Partridge, as indeed are the birds
themselves. The colour varies a good deal ; some eggs are drabby
white with a very faint greenish tinge ; others are brownish
drab, others cream colour, and some pale café an lait. They are
spotless and somewhat less glossy than those of the preceding
species.
In length they vary from 1*3 to 1-48, and in breadth from I 'l
to l'25 ; but the average of a score is v¿\ by r i 8 .
T H I S SPECIES does not vary in size as much as the Black
does. I have measured a good many myself and have had records
of measurements sent me from many places. Neither can
I say that I have been able to discover any appreciable difference
in size between the two sexes.
The following is a resume' of the dimensions of adults :—
Length, i r o to 13-0 ; expanse, 1 7 0 to 19-5 ; wing, 5-3 to 5-8 ;
tail from vent, 2'6 to 3-55 ; tarsus, 1*5 to 1 7 5 ; bill from gape,
10 to r i 3 ; weight, 8'5 ozs. to 1 2 7 ozs.
The bill blackish or deep brown in the male, a little paler or
fleshy or greyish white about the gape and base of lower mandible.
In the female the bill is dark brown, the tip of the
upper and the greater portion of the lower mandible much
paler, often yellowish white or pale fleshy horny.
The irides deep brown ; the legs and feet reddish, yellowish
red, or in younger birds yellowish fleshy.
Note that in this species neither sex ever has any spurs,
although Jerdon gives as one of the characters of the genus,
" tarsi of the male with strong but blunt spurs."
T H E PLATE is, I think, all that could be wished for, although
the legs are generally rather redder than they are there represented.
F
I mentioned before that hybrids between this species and
the last occur. Captain Butler shot 6 or 7 such near Deesa, close