548 A CONTEIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



way through the jungle towards their favourite trees, and at 

 once fly up and perch. When once settled for the m^ht in this 

 way they are not easily alarmed, and I have shot four or five 

 birds in quick succession before the rest of the party would 

 clear out to quieter quarters. 



Occasionally too one can get a shot at the Kalij as they cross a 

 hill path through the forest on their way to or from some sti'eam. 



Great numbers of the Nepal Kalij are snared and bi'ouoht into 

 Kathmandu for sale. The birds bear confinement in the valley 

 very well, and I reared several chicks to maturity. 



812.— Gallus ferrugineus, Gm. 



The Common Jungle Fowl is not uncommon about Hetoura 

 and Nimboatar, and again in the Noakot district ; but it does 

 not occur in any part of the valley of Nepal. Its habits and 

 haunts are so well known that nothing further need be said 

 here about these points. 



818.— Francolinus vulgaris, Steph. {Titar). 



Three males, Valley. — Length, 12-8 to 13"5 ; expanse, 20 to 

 21 ; wing, 5-8 to 6-2 ; tail, 3-6 to 3-75 ; tarsus, 1 65 to 1-8; bill 

 from gape, 1"05 to 1"1 ; bill at front, 0-93 to 0"98 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 2-35 to 2*5 ; spur, 0-15 to 0-25. 



Bill black, upper mandible pale horny at extreme tip ; irides 

 deep brown ; feet orange ; claws horny black ; spur brown 

 horny. 



The Black Partridge is fairly common on the hills round the 

 Nepal Valley from March to October ; and in the Nawakot 

 district, the Hetoura Diin, and the plains of Nepal from Novem- 

 ber to February at least, but perhaps throughout the year. 

 In the valley it is found, in suitable localities, from the foot of 

 the hills to an elevation of 6,000 feet. It frequents grassy slopes 

 on the skirts of forest, where the trees are far apart, or bush- 

 covered ground near cultivation ; and in these localities on the 

 hills it may constantly be heard uttering its well-known cry from 

 April to July. In the Hetoura Diin I found it in rather high 

 grass never far from water and cultivation ; and in the plains 

 it was very common in waste ground overgrown with bushes. 



820.— Caccabis chukar, J. E. Gr, (ChaJcor). 



Two males. — Length, 15 and 15*2 ; expanse, 22'6 and 23 ; 

 •wino-, 6-5 and 6*7 ; tail, 4*2 and 4-3 ; tarsus, 1-65 and 1*7 ; bill 

 from gape, 1'05 and M ; weight, 1 lb. 3 ozs. and 1 lb. 5 ozs. 



Two females. — Length, 13 and 13-1 ; expanse, 20 and 20-3 ; 

 wincy 6*2 and 6-3 ; tail, 3*3 ; tarsus, 1*6 and 1'65 ; bill from gape, 

 0-94 and 10; weight, 15 ozs. 



