PERDICriA. 441 



with two fresh eggs on the 17th January, 1879. The eggs were 

 much pointed at one end. These are of a pale cafe-au-lait tint. 



The eggs are regular ovals, more or less pointed (but never pro- 

 nouncedly so) towards one end, have a faint gloss, and are in colour 

 a spotless creamy white varying to a very pale cafe-au-lait tint. 



They vary from 0-96 to 1-1 in length and from 0-79 to 0-9 in 

 breadth ; but the average of seventeen eggs is 1*0 by 0-83. 



Perdicula argoondah (Sykes). The Rock Bush-Quail. 



Perdicula asiatica (Lath.),Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 583. 



Perdicula argoondah (Sykes), Hume, Rough Draft N. $ E. no. 827. 



The Eock Bush-Quail, the only species whose eggs 1 have myself 

 taken, lays at any time from August to December and again in 

 March, and for afl I know may lay straight on all the year through ; 

 but I have myself taken nests in all the months mentioned. I 

 think they have two broods in the year, but cannot be certain ; 

 anyhow March and September are the months in which I have 

 found most eggs. 



They always prefer semi- waste strips of land, covered with high 

 grass and in the neighbourhood of cultivation, for nesting. The 

 nest is slight, composed of grass loosely wound round into a circu- 

 lar shape, and is placed generally but not always in a depression, 

 scratched for it by the birds, at the foot of some tuft of grass or 

 under some thick bush. 



Six or seven is the usual number of eggs laid. I have never 

 seen, though I have heard of, more in a nest. 



Writing from Jhansi, Mr. F. E. Blewitt says : " The Bush- 

 Quail, I do not know which, but I send you both birds and eggs " 

 (and the birds were the Rock Bush-Quail), " breeds in August and 

 September. The nest is merely an excavated cavity, from 5 to 6 

 inches broad, at the base of a thick patch of grass and quite under 

 it. A few pieces of grass are laid at the bottom of the nest. The 

 female sits very close on the eggs, and I have stood a yard from 

 the nest without her attempting to rise ; only when I have brought 

 my hand near to her has she flown off. The eggs are of a pale 

 reddish white, and six appears to be the regular number of eggs, 

 though probably it may be seven or eight. In average length they 

 are 1-1, breadth -83. 



Writing from Oomraotee in Berar, Mr. J. Aitken remarks : 

 " The Eock Bush-Quail is very abundant here ; coveys may be 

 started wherever there is the slightest cover. They breed during 

 November and December. 1 have found the nest repeatedly ; it 

 is composed of grass and placed under a bush. Sometimes it con- 

 tains as many as seven eggs ; they are large for the size of the bird, 

 and might pass for diminutive eggs of the Grey Partridge. Even 

 at this breeding-season they seem to feed in company, and newly- 

 hatched birds may frequently be seen running amongst half a dozen 

 old ones. But the female continues to watch over her brood with the 



