376 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
back and sides of the neck the buff edges are broader and 
more rufous ; the upper back black with white spots ; the 
scapulars browner with transverse and arrow-shaped bars of 
rufous-buff ; the wing coverts similarly coloured, but with 
more blotchy buff markings ; wing quills brown with broad 
blotchy rufous bars ; the lower back, rump, upper tail coverts, 
and central tail feathers black with narrow white cross-bars, 
the outer tail feathers with black ends, broadest on the outer- 
most pair. Thechinand throat pale rust-colour, the fore-neck 
with black streaks ; breast and flanks black with large scaly 
white spots, which increase in size on the flanks ; abdomen 
pale rufous shading into chestnut on the under tail coverts ; 
lower flanks rufous barred with black. 
Female: the upper parts are less conspicuously marked ; 
the rump and tail are browner, with the white cross-bars set 
further apart ; throat whitish ; the under parts buff with 
broad irregular bars of black, at times approaching in character 
the markings of the male. 
Bill blackish ; iris yellowish-brown ; legs and feet yellowish- 
red. 
Length 12; wing 5°'5; tail 3; tarsus 1:6; bill from 
gape 1-05. 
Distribution —In Ceylon confined to the patanas of the 
Uva basin and the south-eastern and eastern slopes of the 
hills towards Wellawaya and Nilgala. It occurs in various 
parts of Central India, becoming rarer southwards, and 
wanting south of Coimbatore. 
Habits—This Partridge frequents the patanas, ferny slopes, 
and scrub jungles within its limits. It is of rather skulking 
habits, coming out into the open only early in the morning, 
late in the evening, or after rain. When flushed it rises with 
a whirr, rather like an English Partridge. It breeds apparently 
about Christmas time, making a grass nest in a hollow under 
a bush or tuft of grass. There are seven or eight eggs, which 
in colour are creamy white or drab, and in shape broad at 
one end and pointed at the other. They measure about 1-40 
by 1°18. 
