200 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



extremely pretty species, the male being olive-brown above, barred with black ; fore- 

 head, lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, and breast dark purple-gray ; chin and throat black, 

 enclosing from the base of the mandible a white triangular patch ; lower part of throat 

 white edged with black ; middle of abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts deep chest- 

 nut; bill black, legs bright yellow, length about five inches. The female has a 

 whitish chin with a rufous throat, the upper plumage generally dark brown and black 

 with buff stripes on each feather, lower parts buff, with black cross-bars on the flanks. 

 Hume says in India they are found singly or in pairs, and not in coveys, except just 

 after the breeding season, when the old birds and their young are together. Swampy 

 grass lands or meadows are their chief haunts ; they fly swiftly and straight for about 

 seventy yards, and not more than a foot above the tops of the grass. They feed on 

 grass seeds, lay about six olive brown eggs speckled with reddish brown, and probably 

 breed twice a year. 



The genus Rolluhis contains but two species, inhabiting Malacca, Sumatra, and 

 Borneo, one, R. roulroul, penetrating into southern Tenasserim. Some ornithologists 

 divide the species into distinct genera, placing R. niger in the genus Melanoperdix. 

 The red-crested wood-quail, as the R. roulroid is called, is a very beautiful species 

 with a rich green plumage, and a long, red, hairy crest upon the back part of the head 

 It is a forest-loving bird, ranging from the sea-level to a height of about four thousand 

 feet, goes in small flocks of seven or eight individuals, lives on seeds, berries, insects, 

 etc., and rarely comes into the open country. It is quick in its movements, and has a 

 soft, mellow whistle. The female has a lighter colored plumage, and is without the 

 red crest. This species is noted for having the hind claw almost obsolete. A very 

 beautiful bird allied to the last and called Hcematortyx sangmniceps, is also a native 

 of Borneo. The general color is dark brown, with the top of the head, crest, and face 

 crimson, throat, neck, and breast deep chestnut, under tail-coverts black, lengthened 

 ones crimson. 



With the genus Perdix commences the true partridges, of which P. cinerea, the 

 gray-partridge of Europe, is the most familiarly known. Five species may be included 

 in Perdix, 'viz., the one mentioned, P. barbata of eastern Asia, P. robusta, Altai 

 mountains, P. hodgsonice, Thibet (sometimes placed in the genus Sacfa), and P. mada- 

 gascariensis, of Madagascar, by some placed in the genus Magaroperdix. These are 

 all fine large birds, affording sport and food to many people. The sexes are very 

 much alike in plumage. The gray-partridge would be a valuable addition to the game 

 birds of any land. The female lays from eight to twenty-four eggs, the flesh is plump 

 and well flavored, and the bird is not of a particularly delicate constitution. Some- 

 times, when food is scarce, this species will leave a district it has been frequenting, and 

 pack in flocks of a hundred or more, as the pinnated grouse are in the habit of doing, 

 and then the birds are very wild and difficult of approach. The flight of the gray 

 partridge is swift and sometimes protracted, and it rises with a loud whirring sound. 

 The Thibetan partridge, P. hodgsonice, apparently is accustomed to live at great eleva- 

 tions (it having been met with at a height varying from sixteen to eighteen thousand 

 feet), on desolate ground having no grass nor bushes, but only patches of mossy herb- 

 age. Yet at this great height a nest and eggs were discovered ; the nest a mere 

 indentation in the ground, the eggs pale drab in color, tinged with reddish brown at 

 the ends, and ten to fifteen in number. Two very pretty species of a general rich 

 buff-brown color, with gray crowns and cheeks ; forehead and line over the eye black, 

 and breasts vinous fawn, have been placed in the genus Ammoperdix. They frequent 



