f m
to which both species have been procured. These hybrids are
considerably larger birds than the pure-bred Painted Partridge, as
will be seen from the following particulars which Captain Butler
recorded of two of them :—
Length. Wing. Tail. Bill at F. Bill at G. Expanse. Sex. Locality.
ij2S- 5 75- 4'° 087 106. 20'0 o" ) D g 6
1375. 612- 40 10 106. 205 ^ j ueesa, 2 s ,0.
" Iridcs very dark brown ; bill black ; legs and feet yellowish
salmon."
One of these hybrids has been figured on the same plate as
the Chinese or PCastern Francolin, but its distinctive characters
have hardly been sufficiently clearly brought out there ; and I
may mention that it differs from every specimen of pictus that
I have seen, in having (1) a marked black line from the nostrils
to the anterior angle of the eye, and again from the posterior
angle backwards over the ear-coverts; (2) in having a large
black patch on the breast ; (3) in having distinct traces, all
round the neck, of a broad chestnut collar ring ; (4) in its larger
size generally and larger bill in particular; and (5) in having
the throat densely spotted with black—moreover all round the
neck, and on the breast (outside the patch) and abdomen there
is more black than in any pictus that I have seen.
On the other hand, the bird as a whole is more of the pictus
than of the vulgaris type, and has the lores (below the dark
line), cheeks, ear-coverts, and the broad stripe over eyes and
down the sides of the neck, the same uniform bright rufous
fawn that pictus has ; the upper back as in pictus, and generally,
though differing in the particulars above referred to, the whole
plumage is of the pictus type.