THE BAMBOO-PHEASANTS. 203 



J/rt/<? measures : Total length, i2"3 inches^ '^^-'g? 5"8 ; tail, 

 4*4 ; tarsus, i"9. 



Female : Rather smaller. 



Range. — North-eastern Bengal : Garo, Khasia, and Naga Hills 

 in Assam ; also the hills of North Cachar, East Manipur, and 

 Yun-nan, and extending to South-western Sze-chuen and the 

 Shan States. 



Habits. — This Bamboo-Pheasant is a shy bird, frequenting 

 dense grass and rarely met with in the open, except at dawn. 

 When first flushed, they fly rapidly, often perching on trees, 

 but never rise a second time if they can avoid doing so ; their 

 note, most often heard in spring, is, as one might expect from 

 their affinities, somewhat fowl-like, and very different from that 

 of the Tree Partridges, which are met with in similar localities. 

 It is, according to Mr. Damant, who had opportunities of 

 observing this bird in various parts of Assam, nowhere very 

 common, and only found in the heavy forest-jungles at heights 

 of not less than 2,500 feet, and most often in pairs ; they are 

 difficult to shoot, as they will not rise till hard pressed. Mr. 

 Gates recently obtained specimens of this bird from the Shan 

 States, and also a single egg. 



Eggs — The only example we have seen is almost perfectly 

 oval in shape, the small end being but slightly pointed; colour 

 uniform pale rufous-buff. Measurements, 1-45 by i-i inch. 



II. THE CHINESE BAMBOO-PHEASANT. BAMBUSICOLA THORACICA. 



Perdix thoracica, Temm. Pig. et Gall. iii. pp. 335, 723 (18 15). 

 Ferdix sphenura, G. R. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 2 (1844); id. 



Fasc. B. China, pi. viii. (187 1). 

 Arboricola banibusce, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1862, p. 259. 

 Bambusicola thoracica^ Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 307 ; Ogilvie- 



Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 258 (1893). 

 Adult Male and Female. — General coloration much like that of 

 the Common Partridge {Ferdix perdix). Above mostly olive- 

 brown, marked with chestnut on the back and scapulars, and 



