1J- JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



They appear to be getting scarcer every year, owing- to the 

 merciless manner in which they are shot by sportsmen and others 

 during the breeding season, which lasts from the end of August to 

 the commencement of November, most eggs being laid towards the 

 middle or end of September. 



In the early morning, and even all day long when it is cloudy, the 

 cocks during the breeding season have a habit of springing in the 

 air, uttering at the same time a frog-like call, evidently to attract the 

 females. 



Native shikaries take advantage of this habit, and go out to likely 

 places at day-break and mark them down, their masters coming out 

 later in the day, have these spots beaten, as the birds remain in the 

 vicinity for days together. The cock bird usually falls a victim at 

 these times, not from any mercy shown to the females by the gunners, 

 but owing to the greater difficulty in flushing them, they having a 

 habit of running some distance under cover before taking wing ; the 

 cocks on the other hand usually rise freely and offer easy shots. 



It would be very difficult to prevent them from being shot at this 

 season, and nothing less than the most stringent gaaie laws, rigidly 

 and impartially enforced, seems likely to be of any use. 



People argue that if they don't shoot them others will, and if they 

 did not shoot them at the breeding season, they could never shoot 

 any at all, as the birds disappear soon after the breeding season is 

 over, and they would only be benefiting people in far-off districts. 



The eggs, four in number, are placed in a depression in the ground 

 sheltered by a tussock of grass or stunted bush (there is no nest to 

 speak of ) generally in thin grass jungle. They are hard to find. 



In shape they are broadish ovals, pointed more or less at one end, 

 the ground-colour is usually a dark oily-, or olive-green, streaked and 

 clouded with reddish-brown. 



Dark olive-brown, clear almost sap-green, drab, and stone-coloured 

 varieties occur, and the markings vary from reddish-brown to brown. 



They averagel'87 inches in length by rather more th an 1* 6 in breadth. 



Baroda, August and September. H. Lititedak, B. A., 



Deesa, September to October. H. E. Barnes. 

 Neemu&h, August t<> October. Do. 



Whow, September. Bo. 



