ARBORICOLA, 77 



reeds where the creeping rose bushes form thickets impenetrable to aught but 

 an elephant. It is said to breed from March to May. The eggs, 5 in number, 

 are, it is said, laid under some thick bush in a dry spot, and to be white, like 

 those of the Grey Partridge. Hume, quoting Tickell, says that for the table 

 the "Kyah" is not in much repute. The young, like the young of the Grey 

 Partridge, are tolerably good, but old ones are dry and hard, A writer however 

 in the Bengal Sporting Magazine, quoted by Jerdon, eulogises the bird as 

 " bearing the palm for delicacy of flavour and texture in the meat of all the 

 game birds of India," During the months of November and December, the 

 writer says it forms an unrivalled dish for the epicure in gamey flavour, and an 

 additional inducement to sportsmen to fag and find. Hum.e says he suspects 

 that the bagging and finding are very necessary ingredients to furnish that 

 renowned sauce of Spartan origin, without which the "Kyah" would be little 

 esteemed. Personally I know nothing of the bird and cannot offer an 

 opinion, 



Perdix Hodgsonics, Gould, figured by Gould in his *' Birds of Asia," 

 pt. ix., pi, 2, does not appear to have been yet obtained within our limits. 

 The upper plumage is olive brov.D; and the lower parts buif ; sides and 

 back of the neck and wings chestnut red ; head red, speckled with white ; 

 line from the forehead round the ear coverts and throat black, (ye/d.) 



Gen, Arboricoia.— ^^r^-^. 



Tarsus not spurred ; toes long with long claws ; tail short, of i2 feathers. 

 Sexes similar in plumage ; flesh dry and tasteless, 



98. Arboricola torqueola (T^alenc), Jerd., B. Ind. iii. p. 577, 

 No. 824; H time J Str. F. ii, p. 449 ; id., Nesls and Eggs Ind. B. p, 544; 

 id. and Marsh., Game Birds ii. p. 65, pi, Perdix megapodice, Tem., PI. 

 Co/. 462, 463. Perdix olivacea. Gray and Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. i. p. 57; 

 Murray, Avif. Brit. Ind. ii. p, 555, No, 122 1. — The Common PIill 

 Partridge. 



Top of the head uniform bright chestnut j lores black, also above and below 

 the eye ; ear coverts chestnut, continued as a streak down the sides of the 

 nape ; back and rump olive, the feathers edged with dusky and forming 

 lunules ; wing coverts pale chestnut with blackish shaft-streaks and spots ; 

 chin and throat black, the feathers margined with white ; breast pale ashy, 

 surjuounted by a broad white band ; lower breast and abdomen ashy white ; 

 flanks olive, broadly dashed with chestnut and with large white spots ; tail 

 olive, speckled with black. The female has the head and neck olive, speckled 

 with black ; the lores white with the same but distant speckles ; middle of 

 throat unspotted rufous ; breast grey, tinged with rusty. Bill black ; irides 

 brown, deep brown or reddish brown ; orbital skin and a spot at gape crimson; 

 legs and feet blue grey, tinged with red. 



