NESTING W M •■;•: STERN INDIA. 9 



They breed from the latter end of August up to the commencement 

 of October, and occasionally later. I have always found the nests in 

 standing crops, usually through the aid of reapers, who, for the sake 

 of a few pice, will readily point out any nest they find. 



The eggs arc deposited in slight hollows in the ground, with but 

 the faintest apology for a lining. The eggs, from five to nine in 

 number (I once found cloven), are usually broadish ovals in shape, 

 pinched in at one end, measuring 1*1 inch in length by 0'84 in 



breadth . 



In colour thoy vary from smoky to yellowish-white or even stonc- 

 c dour, speckled, spotted, blotched, and clouded with sienna and 

 blackish-brown. 



They are subject to much variation, but as a rule the eggs of one 

 clutch seem to be all of the one type. 



Dcesa, July to October. H. E. Barnes. 



832. -THE BLACK-BREASTED BUSTARD QUAIL. 



Turnix taigoor, Sykes. 



I do not think that the Black-breasted Bustard Quail is very 

 common anywhere ; I have never met with it on the hills, and it 

 appears to be rare in Ratnagiri. It is not uncommon at Deesa, and 

 I shot it at Mhow and Neeniuch. It is more common perhaps in the 

 Deccan. In Sind I have never met with it. 



Thoy breed during the rains ; the eggs, four in number, arc placed 

 in a hollow, generally scratched by the birds themselves, at the 

 base of a clump of sarpat or other coarse grass, which it lines 

 scantily with a few grass blades ; the eggs are peg-top shape, 

 measuring 093 inches in length by about 0*79 in breadth. They arc 

 greyish-white in colour, thickly speckled and freckled with reddish 

 and yellowish-brown, with here and there a black spot. 



Dcesa, August and Sejrtemhcr. II. E. Barnes. 



834.— THE LARGE BUTTON QUAIL. 



Turnix taigoor, Sykes. 



I do not think that the Large Button Quail is common an}' where 

 in Western India, with the exception perhaps of northern Guzorat 

 and some parts of Rajputana : it has been recorded from most parts 



