NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 5 



spot, this latter but rarely, I have only found one such in three years. 

 I have never found more than five eggs in a nest, but they were 

 always fresh, and the shikaris speak of finding as many as ten or 

 twelve. 



The eggs are peg-top shape (sphero-conoidal), and measure 1*55 

 inches in length by nearly 1*31 in breadth. 



They vary in colour from a greenish-fawn to a darkish stone or 

 drab ; they are usually somewhat glossy. 



The birds are very fond of tamarisk jungle. 



Hyderabad, Sind, June and July. II. E. Barnes. 



819.— THE PAINTED PARTRIDGE. 



Francolinus pictus, Jard, and SeL 



I do not think that the Painted Partridge is found further north 

 than Kathiawar. I found them abundant on the plains at the foot 

 of Mount Aboo, and in the vicinity of Deesa and Ahmedabad. 



They occur also at Poona and Belgaum, but appear to be absent 

 from Ratnagiri and Kanara. I once shot a bird at Karli, on the 

 plateau just below the Caves. 



Roughly speaking, the birds are absent from the north and south 

 of Western India, but are common in suitable places elsewhere ; they 

 do not frequent the hills or forest-clad districts. 



The eggs are laid in a depression on the ground, loosely lined with 

 grass and roots, generally under the shelter of a tussock of coarse 

 grass or small bush. I have never taken more than seven eggs in a 

 nest, and have often found five fully incubated. 



The eggs resemble those of the Black Partridge in shape, but are 

 much smaller, measuring 1*4 inches in length by 1*15 in breadth. 

 In colour they vary from faint greenish-white to stone colour. 



They have scarcely any gloss, and what little there is disappears 

 if the eggs are at all incubated. 



They breed during the rains from the latter end of June to the 

 middle of August. 



Neemuch, June to August. H. E, Barnes. 



Deesa, June and July. Do, 



