MASON AND LEFROY. 243 



aten, and it thus seems that the partridge is fond of taking bright 

 objects. They have only been noticed to take these in wet weather, 

 the beads and pebbles lying on the ground would at that time 

 dpp3ar more brightly coloured than if on dry ground, and in a dry 

 atmosphere. 



1373. F. pictus. Painted Partridge. The food of the Painted 

 Partridge is much the same as that of the Black insects and grubs* 

 grain and seeds, and tender shoots and buds of grasses and weeds 

 of many kinds, constitute its normal diet, the larvae and eggs of 

 white ants bsing special favourites, but in the neighbourhood of 

 villages it is often like its northern congener, a foul feeder, and is 

 never, I think, so good a bird for the table. H. M. G. B., 2, 23. 



1374. F. chinensis. Eastern or Chinese Francolin. Mr. Gates 

 '-' Its food appears, in addition to ants, beetles and so forth, to con- 

 sist in a great measure of buds and shoots/' H. M. G. B., 2, 28. 



1375. F. pondicerianus.GiQj Partridge. This partridge feeds 

 on grain and seeds of all kinds, and in very partial to small grass- 

 hoppers, white ants and other insects. It is often accused of beirg 

 a dirty feeder when living near villages, but I am inclined to think 

 unjustly. Jerd. B. I., 3, 572. 



They feed on grain of all kinds, grass seeds and insects, especially 

 white ants and their eggs and on young leaves of mustard, peas and 

 other herbs pecking the grain out of the droppings of passing ani- 

 mals. Boldly do they come out at daybreak on to the open thresh- 

 ing floors of the native peasants. Unquestionably in the neigh- 

 bourhood of villages at seasons when grain is scarce, these birds are 

 inveterately foul feeders. H. M. G. B., 2, 53. It feeds on seeds 

 and insects and is probably at times a foul feeder, though as Jerdon 

 correctly says it is often unjustly accused. F. I., 4, 140. A most 

 unclean feeder. Bombay G. Ahmedabad, Vol. IV, p., 27 ; Balaghat, 

 D. G., 37; Damoh, D. G., 12 ; Saugor, D. G., 12. 



1376. F. gularis. Kyah or Swamp-Partridge. The Kyah 

 is easily reconciled to confinement, even when taken old, and eats 



