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Til l i l l M l l l l i Will
Arboricola chloropus, Tkkell.
Vernacular Names.—[Toun-hka (Burmese), Ptgu.]
rgljji-SJTIE distribution of the Green-legged Hill Partridge
^ftpsSsto is very similar to that of the Brown-breasted species,
vJJPSSO/1!' but its range is lower. It occurs along the skirts
rr&j$k of the Eastern Tenasserim Hills, from at least as far
south as the latitude of Tavoy (and it very probably
extends further south still) to north of Tonghoo,
" ^ * ' a ' and it equally occurs along the eastern slopes of the
Pegu Yoma. In Tenasserim, stragglers occur far from the hills.
Thus, Capt. Bingham recently shot a pair close to the Circuit
House at Moulmein.
I am not aware that it has as yet been recorded from any
locality outside our limits, but it is pretty certain to extend to
iVorth-Western Siam and the Shan States, and probably to suitable
localities in Independent Burma.
THROUGHOUT THE Tenasserim Hills, while bmnneopectus is
pretty well restricted to the more dense hill forests, the present
species is nearly confined to the forests and thin tree jungles of
the plains that skirt the bases of these hills, and the low mounds
or hillocks that are dotted about these.
This species was first obtained in the Amherst district of the
Tenasserim Provinces. Colonel Tickell, its discoverer, remarked
in regard to i t :—
" It appears tolerably numerous, but, as far as my observations
go, is entirely confined to the forests on the banks of the
Zummee River. Unlike its known congeners, it avoids mountains,
and inhabits low, though not humid, jungles, where the
ground merely undulates or rises into hillocks.
" Like the rest of its tribe, it is difficult to flush, and runs with
great rapidity, jumping adroitly over obstacles, and diving into
impenetrable thickets for security. Early in the mornings these
birds come out on the pathway, scratching about amongst the
elephant's dung, and turning over the dead leaves, for insects.
They do not appear to have any crow or call, though during the