226 INDIAN SPOETING BIEDS 



below, flying in that case instead of running, and thus 

 in this point resembling their Himalayan relatives. 



This snow-cock does not seem to nest on our side of 

 the hills, and not very much is known about its breeding 

 anywhere. But Prjevalsky found them pairing in April, 

 and came across young in August, some no bigger than 

 quails, and others full-sized ; so that, here again like 

 the Himalayan species, they must lay at different times. 



The eggs appear to be greenish- white with dark spots. 

 Both parents lead the brood of from five to ten young, and 

 when these are fledged, the whole take wing together and 

 do not settle till they have put a ravine or valley between 

 themselves and their pursuers. They moult in August, and 

 even in September were not fat, though natives said that 

 they did become so in autumn, so that towards winter they would 

 probably be in good condition for the table. 



Grey Partridge. 



Francoli7ius po7idicerianus. Titar, Hindustani. 



The grey partridge, which is one of the sub-group of part- 

 ridges known as francolins, is the partridge of India, and to it 

 the name titar especially applies, though it is sometimes called 

 gora or safed titar, to distinguish it, no doubt, from another very 

 well-known francolin, the black partridge. It is not really grey 

 any more than the so-called grey partridge which takes its place 

 in Europe, but brown with pale cross-pencillings, not very unlike 

 that bird, above ; but below it is decidedly different, showing none 

 of the grey on the breast which the European common partridge 

 {Perdix perdix) has, nor the " horseshoe " on the lower chest ; 

 the under-parts in our Indian bird are barred w^ith fine rather 

 sparse dark cross-lines on a pale buff ground. The throat is un- 

 marked, and outlined by a rather imperfect black necklace. In the 

 common partridge of India there is not even the small sex 

 difference that occurs in the European bird's plumage, the cock 

 being only distinguished by his spurs, which are well developed. 

 The legs are red, but not bright as in the chukor or the " red- 

 leg " at home. 



