204 Zoological Society. 



Subgenus Francolinus. 



Francolinus ponticerianus. Common Partridge of India. 



This Partridge is found amongst bushes and underwood, but is 

 particularly fond of thick grassy hedges round garden plantations. 

 It is found either singly or in pairs. The Grey Partridge breeds 

 during the months of February and March, laying its eggs, seven in 

 number, in grassy spots, hedgerows, and amongst bushes. The egg 

 is of a rich stone colour, 1 inch and -^o^^^ in length, by 1 inch 

 and yV^h in width, but they vary considerably in colour and size. 

 This Partridge is by no means a shy bird, but, on the contrary, 

 appears to prefer fields and gardens near towns and villages to less 

 frequented spots. By some it is called the Scavenger Partridge, 

 but I believe there are no grounds for such a term being applied to 

 it ; its flesh is very fair eating. The crop of one which I shot was 

 full of bajocce and small seeds. 



Francolinus spadiceus. Spur-fowl. 



I procured a specimen of the Spur-fowl on the Ghauts at Khan- 

 dalla. It was flushed in a garden, and betook itself to a tree in 

 which I shot it. Its gizzard contained a quantity of earth, some 

 small stones, and small brown seeds. I was informed by a Shikarie 

 that they breed in the months of February and March in thick 

 jungles, making their nests on the ground or in thick close bushes, 

 and laying three white eggs. 



Subgenus Coturntx. 



I herewith forward an egg, in itself a bad specimen, but the only 

 one I was able to procure, and which I believe to belong either to 

 C. dactylisonanSi the large grey Quail, or to C. textilis (Temm.). 

 I believe the egg to be that of the latter, as if C. dactylisonans be 

 identical with the English Quail, the egg should be of a yellowish or 

 dull orange-coloured white, blotched or speckled with umber-brown, 

 whereas the egg now sent is of uniform buff, merely spotted and 

 discoloured by a long exposure to wet. 



Coturnix Argoondah (Sykes). Rock Quail. 



This pretty little Quail, as its name implies, is an inhabitant of 

 stony hills and bushy sides of streams and nullahs. It lives in 

 bevies, and is to be met with in company with the grey and black- 

 breasted Quail. The Rock Quail breeds generally during the months 

 of November and December, but I have had its eggs brought to me 

 as late as March, and have procured a young bird well fledged as 

 early as 20th November. It does not, I believe, lay more than four 

 eggs, as on three different occasions I have had that number brought 

 to me, and on a fourth, four young ones just fledged were brought 

 to me when out quail-shooting. The young were covered with 



