AVTFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUK. 427 



214.— Galloperdix lunulatus, Valenc. (815.> 



This I should say is the more common species of Spur-fowl in 

 Chota Nagpur. Beavan says, " tolerably abundant in Manbhum." 

 A female which I shot on the 24th of March 1871 contained 

 eggs in a forward condition. In its craw were mhowa 

 blossoms and some kind of ' ticks/ There were two small conical 

 spurs on one leg, one on the other. 



TETRAONIDyE. 



215.— Francolinus vulgaris, Stephens. (818.) 



So far as I know the ' Common' is the only species of Black 

 Partridge found in Chota Nagpur. The Painted Partridge 

 may occur in the west, but all the specimens I examined 

 belonged to this species. I found this bird most abundant in 

 the west where few ' Greys' are to be met with. It also occurs 

 but rarely in Manbhum. Captain Beavan obtained it in that 

 district. 



216.— Ortygornis ponticeriana, Gmel. (822.) 



The Grey Partridge occurs in most parts of Chota Nagpur, 

 but is rare in the extreme west, where for months together I 

 have neither seen nor heard it. It seemed to be very abundant 

 however in Palamow. I have known it to perch on trees 20 feet 

 high, and to call from its lofty position, puzzling me very much 

 at first as to its whereabouts. 



The Kyah ( 0. gularis, Temm.) does not, so far as I know, 

 occur in Chota Nagpur, but I found it to be abundant in low 

 jungle bordering jheels to the east and north-east of the 

 Rajmehal hills. The way in which it runs through the jungle 

 reminded me of the Megapodius of the Nicobars. 



217.— Perdicula cambayensis, Lath. (826.) 



The Jungle "Bush Quail is, according to Captain Beavan, 

 " tolerably abundant in Manbhum." I have obtained it in several 

 parts of the Division, and it is possibly the most common spe- 

 cies, but of that I cannot be certain, as these birds in certain 

 phases of their plumage are extremely difficult to discriminate. 

 According to Dr. Jerdon it is this species which is figured as 

 C. argoondah, Sykes, by Mr. Gould (Birds of Asia, XV., pi. 13.) 



I have shot this species in the Satpnra hills also. 



218.— Perdicula asiatica, Lath. (827.) 



The Rock Bush Quail occurs too, I believe, in Chota Nagpur. 

 I have one female specimen from Palamow which seems quite 



