420 LETTERS TO TH EDITOR. 
Punjab, and yet none of us, so far as I can ascertain, ever 
met with any Stirr-Taits. Now the peculiarity of the wood- 
pecker-like tail is such that the bird could hardly have been 
overlooked if shot, and hence a suspicion arises that it has 
only been within the last few years that this species has ex- 
tended its migrations so far eastwards. It is possible that 
just as Patuas’ SanDeGrovse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus) only oc- 
easionally at long intervals of time makes a far westerly 
migration, as a rule travelling little out of Asia, though during 
its abnormal migrations reaching as far west as Ireland, so 
too the White-faced Stiff-Tail may only at long intervals, for 
two or three successive years, migrate as far east as Delhi. 
All the specimens yet obtained have been birds of the year. 
No adult male or female seems to have been met with thus 
far within our limits. 
Since this was written Mr. Lean of the 5th Bengal Cavalry 
informs me that he has just shot a duck of this species in the 
Pilibheet district. In India therefore the bird gets at least 
ns far east as the 80th degree E. Longitude, and later still 
Mr. Chill reports having obtained two more specimens near 
Farukhnagger. 
Metters to the Editor. 
Sin 
I writs to inform you that a single egg of the Flori- 
can (Sypheotides auritus) was found by Mr. F. C. Constable on 
the Hubb plains on the 13th instant (August.) It is a very 
broad oval with scarcely any perceptible tendency toa_ point, 
of a dark olive or stone color, with reddish brown rather broad 
markings at the larger end and streaks about the middle. 
James A. Murray. 
Dear Sir, 
In your work, the “ Game Birds of India,” I notice 
your remark regarding the call of the Painted Partridge as 
being “quite distinct from that of the Common Francolin,” 
or Black Partridge. Without venturing to contradict your 
assertion, I merely submit my own experiences in the matter, 
and should be much obliged if you could set me right. 
I was sent down to Nowgong in Central India last year in 
February, and one day, while driving toa distant jheel, I 
heard, as I thought, several Black Partridges calling. I must 
premise that I had never seen a Painted Partridge, while Blacks 
were tolerably common to me, and I could recognise their call 
