152 



deal of red in his plumage, which Sonnerat's has not ; the fe- 

 male is of a reddish brown colour, and is without cartilagi- 

 nous spots at all : in fact, the female of this variety is the 

 Gall. Stanleyii of Mr. Gray's f Illustrations*. Eggs exactly like 

 those of the domestic fowl in form and colour, but less in size. , 

 The wild hen would appear to sit on a much smaller number of 

 eggs than the domestic, as Colonel Sykes shot a hen upon her 

 nest in which were only three eggs, and the process of incu- 

 bation had evidently commenced some days. \n the craw and 

 stomach of many birds nothing whatever was found, excepting 

 the seeds of a stone- like hardness called Job's tears (Coix bar- 

 bata). Irides brownish deep orange. The crow or call of this 

 species is like that of the Bantam Cock. 



149. Gallus domesticus, Ray. Pltasianus Gallvs cristaius, Linn. 

 The domestic fowl is so abundant in the Dukhun, that in parts of 



the country not much frequented by Europeans, Colonel Sykes 

 has bought from eight to twelve full-grown fowls for two shil- 

 lings. Many of the hens, particularly of the villages in the 

 Ghauts, are not to be distinguished from the wild bird, except- 

 ing only in the want of the cartilaginous spot on the wing- 

 coverts. 



150. Gallus Mono, Temm., Gall. Ind. 660. Briss., Orn. 1. 174. 

 This supposed species very frequently occurs accidentally in the 



Dukhun. Although unsightly, the black fowl is very sweet 

 eating. 



151. Gallus crispus, Temm., Gall. Ind. 661. Briss. Orn. 1. 173. 



pi. 17. 

 Occurs accidentally like the last variety. 



Genus Numida, Linn. Pintado. 



152. Numida Meleagris, Linn. Guinea Fowl. 



Met with only in the domestic state, and bred almost exclusively 

 by European gentlemen. Thrives as well as in its native coun- 

 try. 



Fam. Tetraonidce, Leach. — Genus Coturnix;, Cuv. 



153. Coturnix dactylisonans , Temm., Gall. Ind. 740. Tetrao Co- 



turnix, Linn., Syst. Nat. I. 278, 20. Lohah of the Mahrattas. 



Large Grey Quail. 

 Rare in the Dukhun, and found only in pairs in tufts of grass near 

 water-courses and ponds. Resembles the Quail of Europe in 

 size and plumage : the irides are dusky red or reddish brown, 

 like those of the European bird, which by mistake are described 

 in Shaw as yellow. Female a little larger than male : one fe- 

 male measured 8 inches, inclusive of tail of 2 inches, but this 

 was a large bird. Period of incubation in the monsoon. 



154. Coturnix textilis, Steph., 1 1 . 365. Perdix textilis, Temm., PI. 35. 



Perdix Coromandelica, Lath., Ind. Orn. 2. 654. 38. Black 

 speckled-breasted Quail, 

 hides dusky red. Length 6 T V inches, inclusive of tail of 1 .vinch. 



