500 Mr. F. W. Styan on the Birds of 



fifteen. They frequent thick bamboo-cover at the bases of 

 hills by preference, but are also found up to an elevation 

 of 2000 feet. They lie very close and are difficult to flush ; 

 when beaten up they rise rapidly and scatter in all directions, 

 flying low. They roost in trees or bamboos, and when flushed 

 will sometimes perch in them. The call-note of the male in 

 spring is a loud piercing challenge, which the natives take 

 advantage of to catch them. A countryman once showed 

 me how it was done. He had two birds in separate cages, 

 one of which he hid under a pile of brushwood. The other 

 was released, and his challenge being answered by the hidden 

 bird, the latter was soon discovered, and a fight ensued 

 through the bars of the cage. I have myself attracted them 

 by imitating the call. 



281. CoTURNix COMMUNIS, Boun. 



(573.) Common all winter and up to the middle of May ; 

 they may be shot again early in September, and it is almost 

 certain a few breed in the district. At Kiukiang in summer 

 I see a few Quails, but I have shot none, and cannot say for 

 certain whether they are Hemipodes or true Quails. 



Fam. TuRNiciDiE. 



282. TuRNix BLANFORDi, Blyth. 



(576.) Hemipodius viciarius, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 402. 



Arrives at the beginning of May and remains till the 

 middle of October. They are difficult birds to flush, and 

 therefore seem much scarcer than they really are. 



Order GERANOMORPH^. 

 Fam. Rallid^. 



283. Rallus indicus, Blyth. 



(699.) A few may be found in winter among the reed- 

 beds of the river. In spring and autumn it is more common, 

 and some of them doubtless breed. 



284. Rallus jouyi, Stejneger. 



(698.) Hypoteenidia striata (L.) ; Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 415. 



