1 86 Allen's naturalist's library. 



As a straggler it may sometimes be met with in the hills at 

 an elevation of quite 6,000 feet, but the plains are its real 

 home. Between the months of April and October, Mr. Hume 

 says that it is habitually found in pairs, and singly during the 

 cold season, while just after the young are able to fly, it may be 

 found in coveys. The habits of this species are generally very 

 similar to those of the Grey Quail, but the call is quite distinct, 

 being a louder double {not a tri-syllabic) whistle. 



According to Mr. Hume, " Rain Quail afford just as pretty 

 shooting as the Common Quail when they are numerous ; 

 indeed, as they run less and fly rather faster, they yield per- 

 haps better sport ; but I have never known it possible to make 

 such huge bags of these as one can of the other. In Upper 

 India, during the winter and spring, you are pretty sure to 

 pick up a brace or two along with the Grey Quail (with which 

 they seem to associate on friendly terms) .when shooting this 

 latter ; but I never knew more than five brace killed at this 

 season in a day by one gun. But just when they first appear 

 in the Doab in June or July, according as the rains are early 

 or late, you may manage, by hard work, to get from twenty to 

 thirty brace in a day, if you have steady dogs and there is 

 plenty of grass about from two to three feet in height, or if, 

 as is the case in some districts, there are a good many fields of 

 the dwarf early rain millets." 



Nest. — A slight hollow without lining, or with only a few 

 blades of grass. 



Eggs. — Average number about nine, sometimes more, often 

 less. The ground-colour varies from yellowish-white to brown- 

 ish-buff. The markings vary greatly in different clutches. Some 

 are finely spotted and dotted all over with blackish or brown ; 

 others are heavily blotched and marked with rich brown, and 

 much resemble those of the Migratory Quail ; but numerous 

 intermediate, and less heavily marked, sets are not uncommon. 

 Average measurements, 109 by o'83 inch. 



