WILD-FOWL, SNIPE, ETC. 147 



India, viz., the francolin, or black partridge,* the 

 painted partridge,f and the grey partridge. J 



The black partridge frequents high grass rum- 

 nahs or i bheers,' and is also found amongst culti- 

 vation. They afford very pretty shooting, rising 

 like rockets, with a loud ' whirr,' for some twenty 

 feet, when they sail away for the next bit of 

 cover, generally taking a longish flight. They 

 are fair eating, but rather dry, like so much 

 Indian game. 



The painted partridge much resembles him, 

 only that the cock bird has not got the handsome 

 black breast of the black partridge, and more 

 resembles the hen of that species. They are 

 found in much the same sort of cover, and never 

 very far away from jungle of some sort. It is 

 very common in the Central and Southern Pro- 

 vinces, where it takes the place of the black par- 

 tridge, which latter variety I have not seen south 

 of Jubbulpore. 



The grey partridge is very common, and much 

 resembles our English partridge, only smaller, 

 and has not the horseshoe on the breast. It is 

 found in the vicinity of villages, and is a very foul 

 feeder, not objecting to carrion, and feeding on 

 all the filth that is found on the outskirts of a 



* Francolinus vulgaris. t Francolinus pictus. 



J Perdix Indicus. 



Li' 



