THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 227 



in habit. Their large staring black eyes would quite give one this 

 impression. Whatever they do by night their habits by day are 

 most unexpected, and they justify their common name of "painted" 

 in an extraordinary manner, for they might as well be merely 

 painted birds as far as any movement can be observed in progress. 

 One might go to look at them half a dozen times a day for weeks 

 without seeing them making any movement. The seed put down 

 vanishes, and the birds keep a good gloss on their feathers and 

 appear to be in excellent health. Ver}?- occasionally one may be 

 seen moving, but the same instant the bird will catch sight of 5^ou 

 and draw in its head and remain squatting motionless, however long 

 you remain to watch. If approached within a couple of feet, how- 

 ever, the bird will attempt to fly, with its wild alarm note of " Yek- 

 5^ek-yek," and land behind another tuft of grass. After one attempt 

 to fly, if again approached, it will permit itself to be handled. 

 It is said that bird-catchers in India take these Sand-Grouse by 

 approaching them under cover of leaves and dropping a net suspend- 

 ed at the end of a bamboo. Having seen the birds themselves I can 

 readily imagine the possibility of such a method of capture. 



" To make up for their uninteresting habits, it must be conceded, 

 however, that the Indian Painted Sand-Grouse have most exqui- 

 sitely marked plumage, the mai'kings on the cock especially being 

 most striking. Even in rough grass they are ver}^ difiicult to see 

 at short distance, but our English grass is too green to hide them 

 perfectly. I should imagine that in their native haunts they will 

 form a perfect example of obliterative coloration." 

 NidifiiCation. 



Wherever the Painted Sand-Grouse occurs it is a resident and 

 breeds and young birds or eggs have been taken from all parts of 

 the tract of country it frequents. 



The principal breeding season is probably April to early June, 

 but eggs have been taken at all times of the j'^ear, and it is difficult 

 to say with any certainty that these are the favourite laying months. 

 It is also probable that very few breed during the height of the 

 rainy season, i.e., from July to the early part of October. 

 Amongst others who have reported the time eggs have been taken 

 are the followijig : — 



Pythian-Adam, Davidson January. 



Butler, Col. R. Bingham February. 



Mosse, Davidson, Wenden March. 



Hume, Adam, Pythian-Adams, Bulkley... April. 



Nunn, Hume, Davidson, Bulkley, C. T. 

 Bingham May. 



Barnes, Felton J une. 



Thompson, Davidson November. 



Pythian- Adams December 



