RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.— Ciicmiis rura. 



A number of black dotted streaks extend from the black stripe so as to form an interrapted 

 band of black over the shoulders. The breast is grey, the abdomen is fawn, and tlie feathers 

 of the flanks and sides are marked with curved bands of grey, white, black, and fawn. 

 The legs and beak are red. The total length of this bird is between thirteen and fourteen 

 inches. The female is like the male, but smaller and not quite so brightly coloured. 



The Sanguine Francolin may fairly be reckoned as the finest of its group. 



This splendid bird inhabits the great Himalayan range, and is thought to be peculiar 

 to that region. Very little is known of its habits, the fullest account being that given by 

 Dr. Hooker, and quoted by Mr. Gould in his " Birds of Asia." 



" This, the boldest of the Alpine birds of its kind, frequents the mountain ranges of 

 Eastern Nepal and 8ikkim, at an elevation varying from 10,000 to l-t.OOO feet, and is very 

 abundant in many of the valleys among the forests of pine {ahies Wehbiana) and juniper. 

 It seldom or never crows, but emits a weak cackling noise. When put up, it takes a veiy 

 short flight, and then runs to shelter. During winter it ajipears to burrow under the 

 hills among the snow, for I have snared it in January, in regions thickly covered with 

 snow, at an altitude fjf 1 2,000 feet. I have seen the young in May. 



The principal food of tliis bird consisting of the tops of the pine and juniper in spring, 

 and tlie berries of the latter in autumn and winter, its flesh has always a veiy strtnig 

 flavour, and is, moreover, uncommonly tough ; it was, however, the only bird I obtained 

 at these great elevations in tolerable abundance for food, and that not very frequently. 



The Bhoteas say that it acquires a distinct spur every year ; certain it is, that they 

 are more numerous than in any other bird, and that they are not alike on both legs. I 

 could not discover the cause of this diff"erence, neither could I learn if they were produced 

 at different times. I believe that five on one leg and four on the other is the greatest 

 number I have al)served." 



The colouring and arrangement of their plumage are very complete, and entir(dy dif- 

 ferent in the two sexes. In the male, the forehead and a line round the eyes, are black, and 

 the crest is grey with buff streaks. The chin and throat are deep blood-red, and the 

 upper part of the breast is wliite streaked with black. Tlie feathers of the back and 

 ■whole of the upper surface are slaty grey, each having a streak of white crossed with 



