THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 7 



sides of the body ; on each side of the crown and dorsal stripe a 

 broad streak of isabelline ; a black loreal line and a central streak 

 on the forehead also black ; under surface of body pale rufous, 

 inclining to isabelline on the abdomen, and with some chestnut 

 patches on the throat and foreneck." (Sharpe.) 



Iris deep brown, almost black. Feet green-grey or livid grey, or 

 grey lead colour, claws generally paler and more fleshy. Bill 

 dusky, base brown, paler and tinged with purple at the base of the 

 lower mandible 



" The legs and feet are pale bluish, brown or drab, or fleshy 

 plumbeous or grey, or livid grey, or bluish fleshy grey, generally 

 more or less shaded dusky on the joints ; and the claws are fleshy 

 brown, pale brown, blackish brown or dusky." 



"The bill is dusky to blackish brown at tip, the rest pale drab 

 brown, fleshy brown with a bluish tinge or almost plumbeous ; often 

 nearly white, or fleshy white at the base of the lower mandible." 

 (Hume.) 



Dimensions. — "Length 13'0 to 15'0 ; wing 7*2 to 8 - ; tail from 

 vent 3*0 to 3*85 ; tarsus 1*35 to 1-57 ; bill from gape 2'8 to 3*3 : 

 weight 7 oz. to 12*5 oz." (Hume.) 



"Total length 15 ins., culmen 2*85; wing 7*5 ; tail 3*5; tarsus 

 1-55." (Sharpe.) 



" Adult female.— Total length 14 ins., culmen 3'2, wing 7 - 3, 

 tail 2*9, tarsus 1*4 " (Sharpe.) 



The Indian birds which I have examined from the Indian Museum 

 and the B. N. H. Society's Museum and other skins sent me from 

 Madras and Kashmir are as follows in their dimensions : — 



Males.— Culmen 2-7" to 3-1" ; wing 7-30" to 8-30" ; tarsus 

 1-50" to 1-80". 



Females.— Culmen 2-90" to 3*25" ; wing 7-20" to 8'50" ; tarsus 

 1-40" to 1-80". 



The question of comparative size of the two sexes is one which has 

 been very much discussed and the law has been laid down by various 

 •authorities in various ways. Thus Jerdon says that the female is the 

 larger bird of the two, Sharpe makes out that it is a much smaller 

 bird with a longer beak. Hume sums up his opinion thus " they 

 show absolutely no constant difference in the size of the sexes." My 

 own opinions support Hume's and I find that though the birds vary 



