PERDICIN.E. 313 



The female has the lower plumage rufous, with whitish shafts 

 in some specimens, and the black markings of the upper plumage 

 less distinct ; the throat is generally darker rufous than the rest 

 of the lower plumage. In some specimens the rufous tinge is 

 more distinct above, and in others less so, and the brown has 

 more of a greenish tinge. 



With the exception of Sind, the Jungle Bush Quail occurs in 

 all suitable localities throughout our limits ; it is essentially a 

 jungle bird, and does not occur in bare open places like argoondah. 



It is a permanent resident, breeding on the hills during the 

 rains, the eggs being very similar to those of the next species. 



Perdicula argoondah, Sykes. 



827. P. asiatica, Lath. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 

 588; Butler, Guzerat; Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 7; 

 Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 423 ; Game Birds of India, 

 Vol. II, p. 117 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India; Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 131. 



THE ROCK BUSH QUAIL. 

 Lowa, Hin. 



Length, 67 to 7'25 ; expanse, 10 to 1T2 ; wing, 31 to 3'5 ; 

 tail, 1-5 to 1-9; tarsus, 075 to 1; bill from gape, 0'5 to '67 ; 

 weight, 2i to 3 oz. 



Bill black, beneath paler ; irides vary from brown to light red ; 

 feet also vary from dull-red to bright-orange. 



Male, upper plumage brownish-rufous, the feathers minutely 

 freckled and lineolated with black and tawny ; the feathers of 

 the head and neck tipped with black, and some of the sca- 

 pulars and wing-coverts with irregular black blotches ; primaries 

 dark-brown, with tawny bars on the outer webs ; tail with the 

 lateral feathers also barred ; a narrow white line passes over the 

 eye from the base of the bill, bordered by dusky and another 

 short line below this from the gape ; the rest of the face, chin 

 and throat bright rufous ; the whole lower parts, including the 

 sides of the neck, being white with numerous cross-bars of black 

 and tinged with rufous on the flanks, lower belly and thigh- 

 coverts. 



The female differs in having the upper surface more uniform 

 rufous-brown, and the whole of the lesser parts pale rufous, 

 albescent on the vent ; supercilia barely perceptible. Some 

 specimens of males are more uniformly rufous than in the above 

 description, and want the black markings ; these are probably 

 young birds. 



The Rock Bush Quail is, with the exception of Sind, gene- 

 rally distributed throughout our limits, never ascending the 

 hills to any great height. It frequents rocky and open ground, 

 whether cultivated or not, more especially if it is studded with 

 low bushes, wherein it can take refuge if disturbed. It is a 



