446 TETRAONIILE. 



" I obtained various nests ; amongst others 



One brought to me on. the 9th August contained five eggs. 

 One brought to me on the 12th August contained four. 

 One taken by myself on the 13th August contained six. 

 One brought in to me on the 18th August contained eight. 

 One taken by myself on the 18th August contained eleven. 



(All the eggs of all tlie.se nests were fresh.) 



" In the case of the last I shot the cock bird within ten yards of 

 the nest, but he did not rise directly off them, as I was stooping to 

 pick them up when he rose ; the hen did not rise, though, on 

 beating about with only two men, several birds of the same species 

 were flushed within two hundred yards. The eggs in this last nest 

 belong to such very different types, that I am almost sure they 

 must have been laid by different hens. And I can only account 

 for it on the supposition that in a place like this, where great 

 numbers are breeding close together, two hens may (as I have 

 often known Partridges and Pheasants to do) lay in the same nest. 

 In this case there were nine of the darker type, and two of the 

 lighter in the nest. 



" One thing about these Quails I noticed was the enormous 

 number of nests that are destroyed. I hardly ever walked out 

 without discovering broken eggs lying about ; but what animal was 

 the culprit I never could be sure, though I suspect the Common 

 Crow Pheasant and the large Lizard (Blood-sucker) are generally 

 the offenders. 



" The nests were of the most rudimentary description, a slight 

 hollow with a few blades of grass or jowari laid in it formed the 

 w r hole concern, and in one case even this was wanting and the 

 eggs were laid in a hollow in the bare ground. 



"The first nests I obtained were two, on the 9th August, con- 

 taining five and eight fresh eggs respectively. 



" The last, also containing five fresh eggs, was obtained on the 

 2nd October, but this was probably owing to a former nest being 

 destroyed. 



" Since the above was written I have found them breeding in 

 the Deccan from the first week in August till late in November, 

 and in the Panch Mahals in August." 



Dr. Jerdon states that " this Quail lays from six to eight eggs, 

 generally of a creamy-pink colour with a few brownish spots, in a 

 tuft of grass, in June and July." 



According to Mr. Hodgson's notes, this species arrives in jXepal 

 about the end of April, when there is usually some rain, and not 

 till after a shower or two. They breed there during May and 

 June. 



Colonel Butler writes : " Belgaum, 28th August, a nest con- 

 taining 8 incubated eggs ; on the 15th September, a nest with 11 

 eggs (fresh), probably (as they were of two different types) the 

 produce of two hen birds. Two more nests same date, each con- 

 taining 8 fresh eggs ; and numerous other nests on the 20th, 21st, 

 and 24th September, and all through October up to the 20th, 

 containing fresh eggs." 



