200 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



extremely pretty species, tlio inrile being olive-brown above, barred witli black ; forcv 

 heail, lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, anil breast dark pur|ple-j;ray ; cliin and throat black, 

 enclosing from the base of the mandilile a white triangular patch; lower part of throat 

 white edged with black; mitldic of alMlomen, vent, and under tail-coverts deep chest- 

 nut; bill black, legs bright yellow, length about five inches. The female has a 

 whitish chin with a rufous throat, the upper jilumage generally dark brown and black 

 with buff stripes on each feather, lower parts buff, with black cross-bars on the flanks, 

 lliiinc says in India they are ffmnd singly or in pairs, and not in coveys, except just 

 after the brceiling season, when the old birds ancl their young are together. Swampy 

 gra.ss lands or meadows are their chief haunts ; they fly swiftly and straight for :)bout 

 seventy yards, and not more than a foot above the tops of the grass. They feed on 

 grass seecls, lay about si.Y olive brown eggs speckled with reddish brown, and probably 

 breed twice a year. 



The genus lioUuhis contains but two species, inhabiting ^lalacca, Sumatra, and 

 Borneo, one, li. roulroul, penetrating into southern Tenasserim. Some ornithologists 

 divide the species into distinct genera, placing R. lu't/cr in the genus ^lelaiwperdix. 

 The red-crested wood-<piail, as the li. rviilroul is calleil, is a very beautiful species 

 with a rich green plumage, and a long, red, hairy crest upon the back part of the he.-id 

 It is a forest-loving bird, ranging from the sea-level to a height of about four thousaml 

 feet, goes in small (locks of seven or eight individuals, lives on seeds, berries, insects, 

 etc., ami rarely comes into the ojien country. It is quick in its movements, and has a 

 soft, mellow whistle. The female has a lighter colored plumage, and is without the 

 red crest. This species is noted for h:iving the himl claw almost obsolete. A very 

 beautiful bird allied to the last and called Ilwmatortijx sauf/itiniceps, is also a native 

 of Borneo. The general color is dark brown, with the to]) of the head, crest, and face 

 crim.son, throat, neck, and breast deej) chestnut, under tail-coverts black, lengthened 

 ones crimson. 



With the genus Perdlx commences the true partridges, of which P. cinerca, the 

 gray-partridge of Europe, is the most familiarly known. Five species may be included 

 in Penfix, viz., the one mentioned, P. Ixir/xilu of eastern Asia, P. rolfiinia, Altai 

 mountains, P. hodysoniw, Thibet (sometimes i)laced in the genus Sacfa), and /*. mada- 

 gascariensis, of Madagascar, by some placed in the genus Magaroperdix. These are 

 all fine large birds, affi)riling sjxirt and food to many ]ico].le. The sexes are very 

 much alike in j)]uniagc. The gray-i>artridge would be a valuable addition to the game 

 birds of any land. The female lays from eight to twenty-four eggs, the flesh is plump 

 and well flavored, and the bird is not of a jiiuticularly delicate constitution. Some- 

 times, when food is scarce, this species will leave a distriit it has been frequentin<j, and 

 pack in flocks of a htmdred or more, as the pinnated grouse are in the h.abit of doins, 

 and then the birds are very wild an<l ditticult of ai)pro.ach. The flight of the gray 

 partridge is swift and sometimes jjrotr.'icted, and it rises with a loud whirrin"- sound. 

 The Thibetan partridge, P. hodf/sonia, aiiparently is accustomed to live at great eleva- 

 tions (it having been met with at a height varying from sixteen to eighteen thousand 

 feet), on desolate ground having no grass nor bushes, but only patches of mossy herlv 

 age. Yet at this great luiudit a nest and egijs were discovered ; the nest a mere 

 indentation in the grouinl, the eggs i)ale drab in color, tinged with reddish brown at 

 the ends, and ten to fifteen in number. Two very jiretty species of a general rich 

 buff-brown color, with gray crowns and cheeks; forehead and line over the eve black 

 and breasts vinous fawn, have been placed in the genus Aininopcrdix. They frequent 



