

155 



162. Pterocles quadricinctus, Temm., Gall. 3. 252. Painted Rock 



Pigeon of the Dukhun. 

 Hare, and met with only in pairs, on open ground at the foot of 

 hills, hides reddish brown. Sexes of the same size. Length, 

 inclusive of tail, 1 34- inches : tail 3 inches. 



Genus Hemipodius. 



163. Hemipodius pugnax, Temm., PI. Col. 60. fig. 2. 



Common in the Dukhun, and called the Bustard Quail by Eu- 

 ropeans. Its reputed pugnacious qualities are not known. 

 Solitary or in pairs, and mostly found in Chillee fields {Cap- 

 sicum annuum). hides light yellow. Length, inclusive of tail, 

 7 X V inches: tail 1 ,v inch. Habits, tongue and internal or- 

 ganization of Coturnix textiUs. M. Temminck describes the fe- 

 male as differing in plumage from the male ; but in Colonel 

 Sykes's specimens the sexes are exactly alike. 



164. Hemipodius Taigoou. Hern, supra castaneus, plumis stramineo 



marginatis, nigroque undulatim fasciatis ; tegminibus alarum 

 stramineis nigro fasciatis ; rem'i gibus fuscis ; mento guldque 

 albis ; pectore nigro alboquefasciato ,• ventre crissoque dilute 

 ferrugineis. 



hides pallide flavse. Rostrum nigrescens. Longitudo cor- 

 poris 4 T V una, cauda I-jV 

 Closely resembles the female of Hem. pugnax as described by M. 

 Temminck, but the bill is longer and more slender, and Colonel 

 Sykes has specimens of both sexes. Sexes alike. 



165. Hemipodius Dussumier, Temm., PI. Col. Called the Button Quail 



by Europeans. 

 Colonel Sykes never met with this bird otherwise than solitary : 

 frequents thick grass or pulse fields, and sits so close as to ex- 

 pose itself to be trod upon. Flight so abrupt and short, that 

 ere the gun is well up to the shoulder, the bird is down again. 

 hides straw-yellow. Length, inclusive of tail, 5-/V inches : tail 

 1 T V inches. 



Fam. Struthionid<e } Vigors. — Genus Otis, Linn. Bustard. 



166. Otis nigriceps, Gould's Cent. Himal. Birds. 



This noble bird is so common in the Dukhun, that one gentleman 

 has shot nearly a thousand. Gregarious. Egg, a perfect 

 oval, brown olive, with obscure blotches of darker brown olive. 

 Length 3-rV inches, diameter 2 T % inches. One only found in 

 a hole in the earth on the open plain, and that considerably ad- 

 vanced in the process of incubation, hides deep brown. Length, 

 male, inclusive of tail, 56£ inches: tail 13 \ inches. Female \\\ 

 inches, inclusive of tail of 10| inches. Male supplied with the 

 remarkable gular pouch common to the Otis tarda. 



167. Otis fulva. Ot. supra cacaotico-brunnea, plumis Julvo mar- 



ginatis variegatisque ; tegminibus alarum, collo, pectoreque 

 Jitlvis, punctis lineisve brunneis parti notatis ; ventre^ uropijgio, 

 Jemorious, tegminibusque caud<% injerioribus Julvo -albis ; teg- 



