THE GREY PARTRIDGES. 



THE Grey Partridges are probably very 

 closely allied to the Francolins, and as pre- 

 viously remarked Mr, Ogilvie Grant places 

 them all in one genus. It seems to me, 

 however, that the Indian Grey Partridges 

 possess certain characteristics of coloration 

 which render it desirable that they should 

 be kept separate from the Francolins. 



In the Grey Partridges the sexes are 

 alike in coloration, but the males are much 

 larger than the females. The tail is short 

 and rounded and composed of fourteen 

 feathers. The male has one or sometimes 

 two spurs on each leg ; the female rarely 

 one. 



These Partridges may be recognised by 

 the first ten quills of the wing being plain 

 or unmarked, except that in one species 

 the outer web of some of the inner quills, 

 say the seventh to the tenth, has some 

 small and insignificant mottlings at the 

 base ; by the tail being more or less rufous 

 or chestnut ; and by the upper plumage 

 being cross-barred. 



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