PERDICINiE. 569 



Gen. Ortygornis, Reichenbach. 



Syn. Plectroperdix, Blyth. 



Char. — Bill lengthened, tip well turned over ; legs red, with 

 one strong and sharp spur, occasionally two ; tail rather short, of 

 twelve feathers, wings moderate. 



This form, as far as we know at present, is peculiar to the 

 Indian continent, but some of the African Partridges appear 

 nearly allied to it. Only two species are known, very similarly 

 coloured above, but differing greatly in size and haunts. They 

 are bold birds, of truly perdicine habits, having a great 

 tendency to form coveys ; but they run much and very rapidly, 

 and frequently perch, as well on bushes and low trees, as on 

 high reeds. 



822. Ortygornis Ponticeriana, Gmelin. 



Tetrao apud Gmelin— Sykes, Cat. 159 — Jerdon, Cat. 273 — 

 Blyth, Cat. 1506 — Perdix orientalis, Gray— Hardwicke, 111. 

 Ind. Zool. 1. pi. 56, f. 2 — Titar, H. — Gora ^titar of some — 

 KaioimzU) Tel. — Koudari, Tam. 



The Grey Partridge. 



Descr. — Head above olive brown, rufous on the forehead, over 

 the eyes, and on the nape ; lores and face also rufous, with black 

 specks ; ear-coverts silky hair-brown ; upper plumage, including 

 the wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts and central tail-feathers, 

 speckled brown, each feather being rich red brown with three bars 

 of creamy yellow, and paler and somewhat olive brown at the 

 tip ; primaries pale brown ; outer tail-feathers rich chesnut 

 brown, with a dusky brown terminal band, pale tipped ; beneath 

 the chin and throat are whitish with small dark brown spots, 

 forming a triangular mark ; the rest of the lower plumage ochreous 

 white or creamy, most pronounced on the breast, and with 

 numerous minute cross-bars of brown, somewhat broader on the 

 breast and sides of the neck, where it mingles with the upper 

 plumage ; lower tail-coverts ferruginous. 



Bill dusky plumbeous ; irides hazel brown ; legs dull red. 

 Length about 12^ to 13 inches ; wing 5 ; tail 3^ ; tarsus not quite 

 2; weight 11 to 12 oz. 



PART II. . 4 C 



