302 The Fowl-like Birds 



Closely related to the last are the Bare-throated Francolins (Pternistes] of 

 east and south Africa, which do not differ essentially except in possessing a naked 

 throat and a large naked patch around the eye, while the Long-billed Francolins 

 (Rhizothera) differ in ^having only twelve tail-feathers and a long, curved bill; 

 the two species of the latter range from the southern part of the Malay Peninsula 

 to Sumatra and Borneo. 



True Partridges. The true Partridges (Perdix) of the Old World are known 

 from the preceding genera by possessing sixteen or eighteen feathers in the tail, 

 feet without spurs, and a similar or nearly similar plumage for both sexes. The 

 Common Partridge (P. perdix) of Europe and central Asia is about twelve inches 

 long, the plumage being gray and reddish brown, the male, and exceptionally 

 the female, with a horseshoe-shaped patch of chestnut on the lower breast. 

 This is a favorite bird among all lovers of birds and seems to be aided rather than 

 limited by extending civilization. It avoids woodlands and frequents especially 

 open, cultivated grounds or heaths and commons, going about, except during 

 the nesting season, in coveys of from half a dozen to twenty or more, and is a 

 favorite game bird throughout its range. Rarely if ever perching in trees, it 

 spends its whole time on the ground, though when pushed rises with a loud 

 whirring sound and enjoys a strong, straight flight. The nest is usually well con- 

 cealed under a tuft of long grass or a bush, and contains from ten to fifteen, or 

 even as many as twenty, pale olive -brown eggs. This species appears to break 

 up into a number of geographic races, of which the so-called Migratory Partridge 

 (P. p. damascena) of the Alpine regions of western Europe is an example. This 

 form is much smaller than the species and has the bill and feet yellowish instead 

 of horn-gray; it comes down to the plains of southern and central Europe in 

 winter. 



Bush Quails. Quite distinct are the little Bush Quails of the Indian peninsula 

 and adjacent regions, none of which exceeds seven inches in length ; they number 

 five species disposed in two genera. The Jungle Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica) 

 is brown above, and white barred with black beneath, the throat and forehead 

 being rufous-chestnut. Mr. Hume tells us that "moderately thick forests and 

 jungles, hills, ravines, and broken ground, not too deficient in cover, and rich 

 cultivation, if not in too damp and undrained situations, from near the sea-level 

 to an elevation of four to five thousand feet, are the ordinary resorts of the Jungle 

 Bush Quail." They are usually found in coveys of from eight to a dozen and 

 permit themselves to be almost trodden on before rising, which they do with a 

 piping whistle and in an instant spread to all points of the compass. They lay 

 from five to seven creamy or brownish white eggs in a rudely made nest of fine 

 grass and rootlets. 



The Tree Partridges (Arboricola), so named from their affecting more or less 

 dense forests and often perching on trees, are natives of southern Asia and adja- 

 cent islands, being distinguished among other things by a tail of fourteen feathers 

 which is less than half the length of the wing. Of these the Common Tree Par- 

 tridge (A. torqueola) occurs in the outer ranges of the Himalayas, at altitudes 

 varying from 5,000 to 14,000 feet, where, according to Mr. Wilson, "it is most 



