CEYLON PIGEONS AND GAME BIRDS. 379 
Length of female 5:3; wing 3°3; tail 1; tarsus 1; bill 
from gape *65. Males are slightly smaller ; wing 3. 
Distribution —This species occurs in chena, scrub jungle, or 
patana nearly all over the Island, except perhaps on the 
higher hills. It is found in similar localities throughout India 
and Burma, and from thence east and south-east to South 
China, Malaya, Java, &c. The various geographical races are 
divided into sub-species, the form from Ceylon—which 
curiously enough is identical with that from Java—being 
termed 7. pugnax pugnax. 
Habits.—This is the “‘ Quail’? usually met with in Ceylon. 
During the day the birds keep to cover, coming out into bare 
open spaces mainly in the morning and evening. When 
flushed they fly off with some speed for a few yards, then 
suddenly drop into cover and run, seldom taking flight a 
second time. Their food consists chiefly of small seeds. The 
hens challenge their rivals by making a low drumming call, 
and often have furious fights with each other. If conditions 
are favourable, breeding seems to go on for a great part of the 
year, and I have taken eggs in February, May, and August. 
They vary from two to four in number, and are usually laid 
in a small hollow under the shelter of a grass tuft or bush. 
The colour varies from dirty white to almost olive-brown, 
thickly speckled with inky-gray and black or dark brown 
spots ; the size of the darker spots varies greatly in different 
clutches. In shape they are dumpy ovals, rather pointed at 
one end. The average size is ‘91 by °71. 

