68 PHASIANIN^.. 



middle of June, about lO eggs, similar to that of a hen in shape and size, 

 though this varies much, and also in colour. In the Shevaroys, Mr. Mahon 

 Daly says, it breeds in February and March. The species is numerous 

 about the time the Strobilanlhes Kunthiamis seeds, which is about once in 

 seven or eight years. He adds that natives collect the eggs and set them 

 under hens to hatch, but the young as a rule get away when nearly adult. 

 Common spur fowl afford good sport, but good dogs are needed to be success- 

 ful. In the Lower Pulneys, Mr. Daly says, they are very numerous. They are 

 poor eating at any time, and need keeping for at least 24 hours. 



88. Galloperdix lunulatus (F«/^«f.)> Jerd., B. hid. iii. p. 543, 



No. 815 ; Htcnie, Nesls and Eggs Ind. B. p. 533 ; Str. F. ii. pp. 427, 458, 

 532; Hume and Marsh., Game Birds i. p. 255, pi. ; Elliot, Mon. Phas. ii. 

 pi. 34; Murray, Avif, Brit. Ind. ii. p. 548, No. 12 10. (?) Francolinus 

 nivosus, Deless,, Voy. Aux. Indes. pi. lO. Perdix Hardwickii {Gray), Hardiv., 

 III. Ind. Zool. i. pi. 52; Jerd., III. Ind. Zool. i. pi. 52; jferd., Ind. Orn. 

 pi. 42 (the female).— The Painted Spur Fowl. 



Crown, lores, nape, cheeks, chin and throat variegated with streaks 

 and spots of black and white ; upper breast black with triangular white or 

 bufBsh white spots ; back, rump, upper tail coverts and wing coverts rich 

 chestnut, the back and wing coverts with a spot of white encircled by black 

 on each feather, and the lower back and rump with black edges to the feathers ; 

 lower breast and abdomen ochrcous bufT, the feathers edged with black and 

 with a triangular black spot; thigh coverts, flanks, and under tail coverts dull 

 chestnut, the feathers edged with black and with a white spot on each feather ; 

 primaries earthy brown, margined with chestnut, secondaries the same ; tail 

 dark sepia brown, in adults glossed with green. The female has the top of 

 the head dusky ; the forehead, superciliary region and nape tinged very slightly 

 with chestnut ; moustachial streak huffish, edged with dark brown ; upper and 

 under plumage olivaceous brown, except the breast and abdomen, which are 

 ochreous with blackish lunulated margins. Bill blackish ; orbits red ; irides 

 red brown ; legs horny brown ; legs and feet plumbeous. 



Length. — 12*5 to 13*6; wing 5-85 to 6*2 ; tail 4-3 to 5 ; tarsus v^ to 1-65 ; 

 bill from gape 0'8 to 0-9. Females are smaller. The males have from one 

 to three spurs on each leg, generally two on each, often two on one and three 

 on the other. The females also generally have at least one spur on each leg, 

 sometimes two, rarely none at all. 



Hab. — Southern India south of the Neilgherries, the Eastern Ghauts and 

 the high broken country connected with these into Cuttack, the Tributary 

 Mehals, Raipoor, Bhundara, Mirzapoor and Monghyr hills. On the other 

 hand, at Goomsoor, in the north of the Ganjam districts, spadiceus only occurs. 

 The distribution of this and ipadiaus, Hume says, is as yet very imperfectly 

 understood and difticult to disentangle. This species is especiall)- partial to low 



