242 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



Adult Female. — Whole upper plumage a pinkish-grey ; the head, 

 nape, neck and upper back with black streaks, formed by each 

 feather having a terminal spot of black, the remainder of upper parts 

 often more rufous and barred, instead of spotted with black. Central 

 tail-feathers like the back, each succeeding pair deepening in colour 

 and with broad terminal bars of white. Chin, throat and sides of 

 the head yellowish-grey, varying considerably in intensity of coloura- 

 tion, the centre immaculate, the sides of the head, lores, and ear- 

 coverts streaked with fine black shaft-lines ; lower throat with 

 reversed, half-moon-shaped band of black followed by a pearl-grey 

 band which fades into the pinkish-grey of the breast. This latter 

 is streaked with black, formed by the black central spots to the 

 feathers, and is followed by the black band like that of the male, but 

 narrower and often much broken. Lower breast above abdomen 

 like that of the male, but generally paler ; remainder of lower parts 

 similar to the same parts in the male. Scapulars and inner wing- 

 coverts like the back ; quills like those of the male but the shade 

 more brownish and the inner webs and tips of the primaries edged 

 white, absent on the first and most broadly so on the innermost ; 

 primary-coverts grey, secondary-coverts dark grey, median coverts 

 yellow-ochre on visible portions, otherwise as in the male. 



In many females, probably not fully adult, the colour of the 

 throat, breast, and upper abdomen is very smoky and practically the 

 same from the chin to the black abdomen. 



Soft parts the same as in the male. 



Measurements.— Wing 8-36 to 9-2 inches (= 211-7 to 233-6 mm.), 

 the average being barely 9'0 (= 228 mm.), bill at front from tip to 

 frontal feathering '42 to "5 (= 10'6 to 12'7 mm.), and averaging 

 -47 (=11-9 mm.), tarsus '82 to 1-08 (= 20-8 to 27^4 mm.), with 

 an average length of -9 (= 22'8 mm.), tail about 40 to 4-5 (= 101-6 

 to 114-3 mm.). 



Females.—" Length 13-38 to 14-47 inches, expanse 27-38 to 28-5, 

 wing 8-7 to 9-4, tail 4-13 to 4-15, tarsus 1-0 to 1-1. Weight 15 ozs. 

 to 17 ozs." (Hume.) 



Young Male. — Shot in October ; has the whole upper plumage, chin, 

 throat and breast and upper abdomen a pale isabelline or pinkish- 

 grey, barred and vermiculated with blackish-brown. Abdomen black 



