32 
to me when out quail-shooting. The young were covered with 
down, and had the appearance of being powdered. The egg of this 
Quail is of a pale buff colour, 1 inch and {5th in length, by =§,ths 
of an inch in width. 
I take this opportunity of bringing to the notice of the members 
of this Society distinguishing marks between the Rock Quail and the 
Grey and Black-breasted Quail, and of proposing that the former 
species should not be confounded with the two last. The distinguish- 
ing marks of the former, the Rock Quail, are the stoutness and depth 
of the beak in proportion to its length, the much more rounded form 
of the wing, the secondaries and tertials being much more equal in 
size with the primaries than those of the Grey and Rain Quail; the 
much more defined scaly protection of the legs and feet in the Rock 
Quail, and what I believe the most distinguishing mark, the smaller 
number of eggs laid by the Rock Quail. I believe that the Grey 
and Rain, or Black-breasted Quail, lay eight or nine eggs, the Rock 
Quail not more than four. 
March 13, 1855. 
Dr. Gray, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Notes oN THE Hasits oF some INDIAN Birps. Parr VIII. 
By Lirzut. BurGeEss. 
Family StRUTHIONIDE. 
Genus Oris. 
Otis nieRicEps (Vigors). BxLack-HEADED Bustarp. 
This fine Bustard is found in flocks, varying in size, in the open 
plains of the Deccan, preferring the dry grassy and stony grounds 
to others. It grows to a large size ; one fine male which I measured 
was 7 feet across the wings, and 46 inches from the tip of the beak 
to the end of the tail. This Bustard may almost be said to breed 
all the year round. I have had an egg brought to me in February, 
another on the4th May, containing a young bird. A gentleman on the 
Revenue Survey told me that he had seen a young Bustard, covered 
with down, in the early part of October. I have had a young bird 
brought to me late in November, as well as eggs in November and 
December. The female generally lays but one egg. A. F. Davidson, 
Esq., Superintendent of the Ahmednuggur Revenue Survey, told 
me a curious habit of the male Bustard. He says, ‘‘ About breed- 
ing time the male is fond of mounting some elevated spot, and then 
strutting about with the tail erected and spread, the wings drooping, 
