BAMBOO PARTRIDCiE 221 



and some of these were still there in June of the following year, 

 but were not seen later. 



Like a partridge, this bird is found in coveys, as well as in 

 pairs or alone ; it is extremely hard to put up out of the long 

 grass or other low cover in which it lives, finding its food in the 

 grass-seeds, and only taking a short slow flight when disturbed. 

 Its presence, however, i.s often betrayed by its whistling call, 

 which is quite peculiar. Being a hard bird to shoot and poor 

 eating, there is not much inducement to go after it, and for the 

 last thirty-eight years none have been seen or heard of either in 

 India or anywhere else. 



Bamboo Partridge. 



Bamhusicola fijtchii. 



The general impression made by this bird may be judged of 

 by the fact that an escaped specimen in England some years 

 ago figured in a sporting paper as a hybrid between a partridge 

 and a pheasant ; it is, indeed, a partridge in size, but its tail in 

 length and form rather recalls the pheasant type. The plumac^e 

 is sober and partridge-like, and the same in both sexes ; the 

 distinctive points about it are the chestnut spots on the brown 

 back, and the diamond or heart-shaped black markings on the 

 belly. The legs are grey, spurred in the cock, and often in the 

 hen as well. 



The bamboo partridge was first discovered by Dr. Anderson 

 at Ponsee, in Yunnan ; here it frequented old rice land on 

 hillsides at 3,000 feet. It is now known to inhabit Manipur, 

 the Kachyen Hills, and in our territory. Upper Burma and 

 the hill ranges west to Assam. This being so, it at first 

 seems strange that a good-sized bird like this should have 

 first been made known from outside, when it occurs even 

 near Shillong, but it is a very skulking bird, and difficult to 

 flush. Besides bamboo-jungle, it haunts long grass and heavy 

 forest jungle ; it is strictly a hill bird keeping above 2,000 feet. 



It perches freely and roosts in trees at night ; and on 

 rising in the morning will come out into open spaces. It is 



