412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIII. 



pitching within a few yards of where he did, and, presently, I heard 

 the faint " cluck-clnck " of the anxions parent as he called to his 

 'chicks who, doubtless, ran to him at once, for the clucking soon 

 stopped. 



The young seem to hatch in ten to twelve days ; the Oacharies say 

 ten days, but judging from what Dr. Seth Smith says of its nearest 

 relations, it is probably twelve. In a very short time they become 

 wonderfully independent, and when less than a fortnight old, can 

 fly short distances with ease and celerity, their wings looking dis- 

 proportionately large in comparison to their body. 



Like T. pugnax they eat both insects and seeds, and they are also 

 fond of the blades of growing rice, just as it begins to spring up, 

 for more than once I have taken these from their stomachs. Their 

 actions while feeding are ludicrously like those of the Domestic 

 Fowl ; they scratch in the soil and bustle aboiit from one likely spot 

 to another, seize an ant or spider with a little run, hop up and catch 

 a grasshopper on the wing, or turn over the soil and pebbles in 

 search of the insects which harbour beneath them. At the same 

 time their actions impress one as being very secretive, and they have 

 a rather fui'tive look as they run about, all their energy never dis- 

 turbing the complete silence. 



(To he continued.^ 



