Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 383 



to penetrate into the haunts of this species, but |)rocurcd a pair 

 there from the shop of a European trader, who had bought them 

 from the native shikarries in winter. I had to pay for the same 

 at the I'ate of 85. a pair, which seems an exorbitant price to one in 

 England, but is thought little of by the Simla ladies, who are 

 the principal purchasers of such skins for their hats. 



818. Francglinus vulgaris. Black Partridge. 



This handsome and game-looking bird occurred to me at 

 Julpigoorie, on the Bhootan terai, in 1860, in the Maunbhoom 

 district* and at Maldah, in Lower Bengal, in 1864, at Kuruaul 

 and Umballah in 1865^ and at Kotgurh, near Simla, in 1866. 

 In this last locality it was procured by a friend. It is not the 

 commonest Partridge in India — but where it does occur affords 

 by far the best sport, especially with dogs ; and for the table its 

 flesh is infinitely superior to that of the Grey or Common Par- 

 tridge. Its occurrence in the Maunbhoom district is apparently 

 unknown to Dr. Jerdon ; and as I have since procured the next 

 species, I can with certainty say now that I did not confound 

 those found in Maunbhoom with that species. A female speci- 

 men in the llesh, shot at Pathurkhuta, February 19, 1865, 

 measured in the wing 5*75, and in the length of the tarsus 

 1'625. It is called by the natives of Maunbhoom the " Chee- 

 teeree Kunniah,^' probably from the call, which Ishould syllable 

 "ttik, tee-tee-teeree-tee.^' 



819. Francglinus pictus. Painted Partridge. 



This rare bird occurs plentifully around Morar, in the North- 

 west Provinces, near Gwalior. It inhabits the low jungle- 

 covered hills in that vicinity, and does not appear to frequent 

 the standing crops, or such places near water as are invariably 

 found to be the habitat of the Black or preceding species. On 

 first seeing fresh specimens of this bird it struck me as being 

 somewhat like the female F. vulgaris, or more like what I should 

 imagine would be the result of a cross between a female of that 

 species t and a Jungle-Cock [Ga/lus, sp.). The legs are of a 



* Cf. Ibis, 1867, p. 157. 



t Tt might easily be mistakeu for this bird, were it not for its peculiar 

 rcddisih-brown head. 



