THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 527 



Miarree, and in the article accompanying it he ri'corded it as 

 breeding very commonly in the Galis in the vicinity at between 

 7,000 and 1),000 feet. In letters to me he describes the nest as 

 being nearlj' always placed in thick green undergrowth on the 

 sides of hills in forest, either evergreen or fir. Sometimes in 

 amongst bracken in the same forests and sometimes in amongst 

 tangles of briars, raspberries or other canes, but, wherever 

 placed, generally well hidden from the view of the passer-by, 

 and often protected by a fallen tree or some densely foliaged low 

 bush. Occasionally the nest is wedged in amongst the roots of a 

 tree, either standing or fallen, and in such cases va&Y be in a hole 

 or hollow almost ont of sight. 



Kattray also observes that of the nests he took round about 

 Danga Gali every one v^'as placed under thick bushes of a kind of 

 Rhue with a strong aromatic smell. 



The nest itself appears to be a trivial affair of a few leaves, 

 sticks and dead weeds, more often than not merely the accumula- 

 tion of fallen odds and ends Avith a receptacle scratched in the 

 centre ; less often a more pretentious affair, the materials having 

 been collected together in a heap in the centre of which the eggs 

 lie in a soft, well-lined depression. 



The nest may often be found in forests of Paludna Pines, and in 

 these is generally placed in some damp, mossy ravine, in which 

 the rocks, bracken and bush undergrowth offer protection and con- 

 cealment. It is seldom, if ever, found in the more open parts, 

 where the undergrowth is scanty, and the surface of the 

 hillside unbroken. 



Dodsworth found it breeding near Simla amongst Deodars in 

 exactly the same kind of position as that generall}' found in the 

 Paludna Pine Country, so that undergrowth and possibly the near 

 vicinity of water would appear to be the two essentials in the 

 selection of a nesting site. 



The number of eggs laid have been variously reported as being 

 from 4 to 9. Eattray gives the ntimber as 5 to 7, a full clutch nearly 

 always containing the latter number. Hume says 5 to 9 ; Wilson 

 says that 7 are laid. Whymper has found as many as 7, but says 

 that generally 5-6 are laid. 1 have had clutches of 4 sent me, 

 which have been much incubated, and have only heard of one 

 clutch of as many as 9. 



The most common number in a full clutch thus seems to be 5 to 

 7, whilst often only 4 are laid, and but rarely 8 or 9. 



In general appeai'ance the eggs are more like those of Grouse 

 than those of our true Pheasants. The ground colour is a pale buff, 

 usually rather dull and dirty in tint, sometimes richer and brighter 

 and sometimes with a slight reddish tint. The markings consist of 

 spots, specks and blotches of reddish brown, dark, light or medium 



