62 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION. 
frequenting daily and for weeks together the same feeding 
grounds and the same tree at nights. It feeds principally on 
grain, occasionally on insects and grubs, and even on snakes ; 
at any rate, years ago, a small snake was taken from the 
stomach of one in my presence. The breeding season here 
extends, 1 think, from June to September. The majority 
probably lay in August, judging from the number of small 
chicks brought into Lucknow for sale in October. 
818.—Francolinus vulgaris, Steph. Native name— 
Kala-Titur. 
Though common in many parts of Oudh, I have never seen 
the Black Partridge strictly within the limits of the Division. 
Stragglers, according to good testimony, have been shot within 
its boundaries on the banks of the Goomti:; while native 
shikaris assert that shey reside in the tamarisk and grass 
jungles in the khadir of the Ganges (Unao district), From 
the nature of the localities referred to, I am inclined to believe 
that they may be found in the vicinity of the Ganges, though 
I have not personally seen or heard them there. 
During my rambles in Kumaon in May and June I found 
this Partridge very abundant in the valleys of the Sarjoo, 
Ramgunga, and Gori rivers (up the latter almost to the snows), 
and frequently saw it perched on trees generally about the 
lower branches; but once about 80 feet high on the top of 
a dead tree with nothing but the trunk and the stumps of 
some of the larger branches left. It was calling lustily, but 
as no one thought of looking at the tops of the trees it 
bothered us greatly for some time, but was at last discovered. 
822.—Ortygornis pondicerianus, Gm. Native 
name—Titur. 
The Common Grey Partridge, though found almost any- 
where, is nowhere very abundant, except, perhaps, in dhak and 
thorn jungles, to which it flies for shelter when the spring crops 
are cut. From its skulking habits it is often difficult to flush, 
and consequently affords poor sport; but a few may always 
be bagged in the very early morning when out feeding. 
A few call birds, placed overnight in a suitable place, will 
generally succeed in collecting about them all the males in the 
neighbourhood, when a battue may be arranged the following 
morning. 
This Partridge also takes readily to trees. A pair that I 
flushed some half a dozen times, without being able to bag 
them, eventually took shelter in a huge mangoe tree in which 
I could not see them, and from which they were with difficulty 
