256 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



Its range has now to be carried considerably further east and also 

 north-west across the Indus. In the Santhal Parganas I shot two 

 birds out of a small flock, which for some days frequented some 

 ravines close to the Birbhum Eoad between Nya Doomka and Suri. 

 I have records of its appearance both in Ranchi and Hazaribagh and 

 in Gya, further east than recorded by Hume, in the plains at the foot 

 of the Ranga Hills. All these places are very dry and stony and are 

 situated in amongst, or near, hills, which are broken up with ravines 

 and dry water-courses, but at the same time have a growth of jungle, 

 scrub for the most part, but in others stunted trees and short coarse 

 grass. None of the districts mentioned come within the area 

 described by Hume as the " low, rich, unbroken alluvial plains in 

 the whole of the Lower Bengal and Assam." 



As regards the north-west Major F. J. K. Barton records in the 

 B.N.H. Soc. Journal that P. fasciatna has been shot almost every 

 year since 1895, at Rustom, some twenty miles from Mardan, in the 

 Buner foot-hills. He saj's : "Painted Sand-Grouse are found near 

 Rustom in low stony hills with a fair quantity of jungle growing on 

 them. They are generally put up in pairs or small fiocks. The 

 natives say they are always there, but that the numbers vary, some 

 years there being more than others." 



It has also been procured near the Orakzai, about half-way 

 between Bannu and Peshawar, and it is probable it will be found all 

 along the foot of these hills. Mr. H. G. 0. Bridgeman,*in writing to 

 me, says that these birds are comparatively common on the "Kala 

 Chitta and neighbouring hills just sorath of Campbellpore during 



October, and it is dii!icult to believe that they never 



cross the River Indus, as opposite to where the Kala Chi>tta Hills meet 

 this river, exactly similar ground is almost within stone's throw." 



Finally, Major Whitehead records that a Mr. McD6nald obtained 

 one of a pair in the scrub-jungle west of Shinauri (3,800 feet). 



Nidification. — Wherever the Painted Sand-Grouse occurs it is a 

 resident and breeds, and young birds or eggs have been taken from 

 every part of the tract of country it frequents. 



The principal breeding-season is probably April to early June, 

 but eggs have been taken at all times of the year, and ibis difficult to 

 say with any certainty that these are the favourite laying-months. 



