PROCEEDINGS. 121 



have both specimens been fonnd in the same locality. This species is very common in 

 the Konkan. 1 hare heard of as many as ten brace having been killed by one gun 

 within eighteen miles of Bombay this season in a short clay's sport, and there are vast 

 tracts in the Konkan whero the bird is indigenous. But, owing to the want of pro- 

 tective game laws, this partridge has already become scarce compared to what it was 

 ten or twenty years ago. As an instance of this, I may stato I walked over several 

 miles of partridge country in the Konkan- on the 11th of this month, with a line of 

 beaters, and only saw sis Painted Partridges all day. I remember eleven years ago 

 that two Bombay sportsmen shot twenty odd brace in a morning's sport. 



The Painted Partridge is somewhat of a runner, but is not to be compared in that 

 respect with his brothers, the Grey Partridge or the Chukor. He is a good bird to 

 eat when properly cooked. He is a good breeder, generally hatching six to eight. I 

 look upon him as the very best bird to be saved from destruction by Bombay natural- 

 ists — whether by game laws or otherwise. The average weight is about 10 oz. 



I next mention the Grey Partridge. I dismiss him as quite unworthy of our atten- 

 tion. He does not exist in the Konkan. He is a dirty feeder, and is always to be 

 found near the filthiest spots round villages in Guzerat, &o. 



I now corno to the Chukor. This species is one of the red-legged sorts, therefore a 

 runner, and is not, from a sportsman's poiut of view, as well worth attention as the 

 Black Partridge or the Painted Partridge. It is chiefly found in mountainous districts, 

 and I very much doubt if it would thrive on low-lying lands. Very few years ago 

 some sixty brace of Chukor were sent through mo (by Captain Allen) from the low 

 hills of the Himalayas to Ootacamund in the Neilgherry Hills. Hardly a single bird 

 was lost in transit, but I believe I am correct in saying they were a failure. 

 However, I must qualify that by saying I have not had any information on the point 

 for a whole year. Only I do know that I shot for nearly a month over the grounds 

 where they were turned down near Ootacamund, in the autumn of 1889, about two or 

 three years after they were forwarded, and I never saw one, or heard of one. And 

 there were usually quite a dozen Spaniels present at those hoots. After this experi- 

 ence I am not an advocate for introducing Chukor into this Presidency. But I take 

 the opportunity of suggesting that we make an experiment with pheasants. 1 

 thoroughly believe that if pheasants were turned down in the grass lands and teak 

 jungles near the Western Indian Ghats, and protected, that a splendid stock might be 

 reared. Every kind of suitable food is present in those jungles for pheasants, and 

 there is plenty of water. I should add about the Bengal Florican that it would be a 

 most interesting experiment, as the bird is not known west of the Gauges. That it is 

 possible it would thrive on the same lands and food as its smaller half-brother, the 

 Lesser Florican or Likh, which is not uncommon in the Deccau and at the Null in 

 Guzerat. I should doubt, however, our being able to obtain the Bengal Florican in 

 sufficient quantities. I should also suggest the introduction of the African Guinea 

 Fowl. Whatever we do now, we shall do more for the next generation probably than 

 for ourselves. The proposal about Markhor can only be taken as a suggestion to offer 

 to the Neilgherry Game Association. 



Something might also be done for the preservation of other indigenous game in 

 this district, namely, Peafowl, Bekri, or fuur-horncd Antelopes and Cheetal 



w .- 



% 



