THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 201 



Francolinus francoUnus. — Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. M. XXIL, p. 136 (1893), 

 Francolinus francolinus henrici. — Hartert, Nov. zool. XXIV. p 289 (1917)' 

 VERNACULAR NAMES.— Kala-tetm or Kala-tetri (Hin) '; Taru (Pushtu). 

 Description— Adult if aZe.— Similar to F.f. asike, but paler every- 

 where. This is more especially the case in regard to the small Sind 

 birds. As regards the extent of the barring, this appears to me 

 to vary individually to such an extent that it is of no value as a 

 sub-specific character. The under tail-coverts are a darker chest- 

 nut than they are in asice, and there is hardly ever any trace of 

 barrings. 



Colours of Soft Parts. — As in asice. 



Measurements. — Birds from Persia and Afghanistan seem to run 

 larger than those from Sind and Baluchistan, the former measuring 

 in their wings from 164 to 175 mm., and the latter from 148 to 163 mm. 

 In colour they agree very well, and I do not consider it necessary 

 to again sub-divide them. The Afghanistan and Sind birds are 

 the palest, whilst the Baluchistan birds, though as small as those 

 from Sind, agree with the Persian birds in being perceptibly 

 darker. 



Adult Female. — Differs from the female of F.f. asice in being paler. 



Colours of Soft Parts. — As in asice. 



Measurements. — -The only Sind female I have seen has a wing 

 of 149 mm., others of this race vary between 153 and 160 mm. 



Chick in Domi from Fao in Persia varies from the chick of asice 

 far more than the adults do from one another. Above it is a pale 

 whitish fawn, the central markings more narrow, though longer in 

 shape than they are in asice. The cjuills have many light bars and 

 narrower dark ones, making these feathers appear much lighter 

 than they do in the other races. The head is of the palest fawn 

 with a narrow darker centre, and below it is unmarked creamy white. 



Distrihution. — Southern and South-Eastern Persia to Fao and 

 Bagdad, Baluchistan, Afghanistan and Sind. 



A specimen from Chitral is undoubtedly of this race, and probably 

 all those found in the hills of the N.-W. Frontier of India as far 

 North as Quetta will prove to be the same. 



Type Locality. — Sind. 



Nidification. — There is practically nothing on record about the 

 breeding of this race, but as it is a resident bird, it will be found 

 nesting wherever it occurs. 



In Baluchistan and the foot hills of the N.-W. Frontier it breeds, 

 apparently in the thin scrub jungle, and, where there is any, in 

 grass patches. In South Persia it breeds in the sparse grass border- 

 ing the rivers and river beds, and also in amongst a species of 

 Polypodium, which grows over an enormous area of country 

 during the rains, forming the staple food of Sand Grouse, and 

 perhaps also of this partridge. 



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