Grey Partridges. 175 



" The favourite grounds for this Partridge 

 are thick beds of reeds and long grass 

 along the banks of rivers, jheels and 

 watercourses ; and especially in those 

 swampy patches of reeds where the 

 creeping Rose-bushes form thickets im- 

 penetrable to aught but an Elephant. 

 If cultivated land be near, so much the 

 better, for this Partridge loves to feed on 

 open patches of Mustard, Dhal and other 

 pulses, and indeed during the cold 

 weather may frequently be found in the 

 fields at all hours of the day. Occasion- 

 ally it resorts to dry grassy plains with 

 scattered bushes, but much more generally 

 grassy churs near water. During the rains 

 and when some of its usual haunts are 

 flooded, it betakes itself to the fields, 

 hedgerows and bush jungle, and at this 

 time affords good sport even to the 

 sportsman on foot ; and in some localities 

 when flooded, the Kyah may be seen 

 flying from tree to tree. 



"This Partridge is generally, except 

 when breeding, met with in somewhat 

 scattered coveys, which rise three or four 

 at a time with a cackling scream ; they 

 fly strong and straight with outstretched 

 neck, seldom going to any distance, but 

 dropping into some thick covert, and 



