56 NATURAL HISTORY. 



greenish-stone colour, spotted, streaked, clouded and blotched, olive- 

 brown and pale inky purple. They measure 1*45 inches in length 

 by about an inch in breadth. 



803. — Pavo cristatus : Liw. 



The Pea-fowl breeds during August and September, when the 

 rains are at their height. The eggs, six or seven in number, are 

 laid in a depression in the soil (scratched by the hen), scantily lined 

 with a few grass stems or leaves. They are broadish ovals, slightly 

 pointed at one end, and are creamy-white or pale cafe-au-lait in 

 colour, pitted all over like a Guinea-fowl's egg. They measure 2*75 

 inches in length by about 2 in breadth. 



8-14. — Galloperdix sjutdieetis : Val. 



The Bed Spur Fowl breeds during June and July, and probably 

 earlier, as I saw a brood of chicks early in July that must 

 have been hatched in the beginning of June. The nest is very 

 slight, placed in a depression in the ground, scratched by the hen 

 herself. The eggs, from four to six in number, are miniatures of those 

 of the domestic fowl. They measure 1*6 inches in length by about 1*2 

 in breadth. 



819. — Francolinus pictus : Jar. & Sel. 



The Painted Partridge lays after the rains have well set in, viz., 

 about August and September. The nest is a very loosely made pad, 

 placed in a depression in the ground. The eggs, six or seven in 

 number, are peg-top shaped, and are of a smoky white colour. They 

 measure 1*4 inches in length and about 1*15 in breadth. 



822. — Ortygornis pondiceriana : Gm. 



The Grey Partridge breeds from the end of March to quite the 

 middle of June. The eggs are occasionally found on the bare ground, 

 but there is generally a more or less compact pad, placed in a 

 depression in the ground under cover of a tuft of grass. The eggs, 

 six to nine in number, are slightly elongated ovals, pinched in more 

 or less at one end, and are of a slightly soiled white colour, and 

 measure 1*3 inches in length by about 1 inch in breadth. 



826. — Perdkula asiaiica ■. Lath. 



The Jungle Bush Quail lays towards the end of the rains. I have 

 never succeeded in obtaining eggs } but have many times flushed 

 broods of chicks. 



