THE BAMBOO-PARTRIDGES 



THE Bamboo-Partridges form a small 

 group of game birds confined to the 

 Burmo-Chinese countries. They approach 

 the Pheasants in the shape of the wing, 

 and they appear to be closely allied to 

 the Spur-Fowl. They differ from the 

 Partridges in the longer and more graduated 

 tail. Altogether they seem to form a con- 

 necting link between the Partridges and 

 the Pheasants. 



In the sole species of this group found 

 within our limits, the sexes are alike. 

 The tail, composed of 14 feathers, is 

 rather long and much graduated. The 

 male (sometimes the female also) has a 

 sharp spur on each leg. 



The plumage of this Partridge is very 

 handsome, the sides of the body and the 

 lower part of the breast being covered 

 with large heart-shaped black spots. The 

 upper plumage is also much variegated 

 with large black spots, as in the Hill- 

 Partridges. The first ten quills of the 

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