62 THE KYAII OR SWAMP PARTRIDGE.
not rise again. They go about in small parties and in pairs. The
call is similar to that of the Grey, but with the last note omitted."
Colonel Graham tells me that "the Swamp Partridge
occurs throughout the whole of the Darrang district of Assam
lying along the north bank of the Brahmaputra, and also on
the churs of that River on which high nul grass exists.
" The bird also extends eastward into the North Lakhimpur
district, going as far east as Sadiya ; but here it is rare, and there
can be no doubt that after leaving the Darrang district it
decreases rapidly in numbers.
"The high nul grass on the banks of nallas or marshes, as
also the high grass round the mustard fields, are its favourite
resorts ; and, in the great majority of cases, three birds are
found together—possibly the two old birds, and a young one."
Mr. J. Inglis writes :—
" It is quite common in the low lands of Cachar, and may
be heard calling in the bhfls (or swamps) night and morning.
I have frequently heard it calling during the night, especially on
moon-liglit nights. I sometimes put it up with my dog along the
edges of jungle ; but to try and shoot them in numbers requires
elephants, as it is quite impossible to follow them up on foot."
Mr. Damant remarks :—
" It is nearly always found in low swampy ground, and
never far from water ; the birds lie in coveys of six to ten ;
and in the morning and evening may often be found
on the edge of the jungles feeding in the open; they are
easy to shoot, as they fly straight and not very rapidly."
Mr. II. J. Raincy says :—•
" This species is found throughout the south of the Jessore
district, including the cultivated parts of the Sunderbans
portion thereof. They inhabit heavy hogla (Typha clepliaiitina)
jungle growing on the banks of rivers and smaller streams,
and issue out of this dense cover in the cool of the forenoon
and afternoon to feed in the adjoining open ground
and rice fields. These are the only times that the sportsman
has any chance of being able to flush them, but then,
if aided by a couple of beaters or a dog, or even alone, by
simply moving along the outer edge of such jungle, he may
obtain a few shots. They rise with a sudden whirr, accompanied
by a sharp cackling noise, apt to unsteady the nerve and aim
of a novice in this description of shikdr,
" Swamp Partridges are occasionally snared in rice fields, &c,
where they come to feed. They thrive fairly in captivity if
caught not over a season old and kept in a large cage built
on the ground, with jafri or trellis work on the sides, and a
light thatched roof above; but I have never seen them breed
in confinement. They should be well fed with paddy or unhusked
rice, which they will eat freely."
THE KYAH OR SWAMP PARTRIDGE. 63
VERY LITTLE is known of the nidification of this species. In
fact, the only record I have about it is a note sent me by Mr.
H. J. Rainey, with a nest and five eggs taken by him near
Khoolna in Jessore. He says :—
" I took the nest, which had been discovered and marked for
me by one of my tenants, on the 13th April 1875. On approaching
the spot, we heard the loud cackling of the bird, as if it had
been disturbed by our approach ; and, on dra\ving close, she (for
I suppose it was the female) rose and flew away. I had no
gun, so did not shoot her, but saw her so distinctly that there
could be no possible mistake about the matter.
" The nest was placed on the ground in a patch of khar and
kashiya, i.e., thatching or serrated grass and spontaneous sugargrass
(Andropogon serratum and Saccharum spontaneum), close
to the margin of a dry tank covered with dense jungle, and
about half a mile from the nearest human habitation.
" The nest was rather neatly constructed of the thatching
grass ; circular in shape, about seven inches in diameter, one
and a half in thickness at the sides, and perhaps half an inch
in the centre. The nest was fitted into a saucer-shaped
depression in the ground, and the egg cavity was about four
inches in diameter and two in depth.
" The eggs, five in number, were all perfectly fresh and still
quite warm when I removed them."
The eggs are broad ovals slightly pointed towards one end,
and one or two of them slightly compressed there. The shell
is stout, full of pores, but withal glossy. In colour the eggs are
somewhat pale café au lait, and all exhibit somewhat more or
less distinctly a pale purplish or purplish brown speckling or
stipling about the larger end ; one or two of them also show
signs of similar markings in other portions of the egg. Though
very much smaller and fainter, these markings indicate an
approach to Caccabis clmkor.
These five eggs vary from 1-44 to i'5 iu length, and from r i6
to I'23 in breadth.
Hodgson, I may add, notes that this species lays from 10 to
IS eggs, but I do not gather that he himself ever took a nest.
I HAVE BUT few measurements of this species ; but gather that
the females are smaller than the males. A male measured :—
Length, 15-5 ; expanse, 2375 ; wing, 7-25 ; tail from vent, 4-5 ;
tarsus, 2'5 ; bill from gape, roi ; weight, 18 ozs. Another:—
Length, 147 ; expanse, 2 r 6 ; tarsus, 27 ; bill from gape, 1-2.
The bill in the male is black, whitish horny at the extreme tip
of the upper mandible ; in the female it is rather browner; the
irides deep brown ; skin of eyelids obscure greenish grey ; the
legs and feet litharge red ; spurs and claws horny brown.