502 



224. Pterocles exustus, Temminck. 

 Punjab ; N.W. Provinces of Bengal : common. 



225. Pterocles fasciatus (Scopoli). 



Pretty common in the low jungles around the base of the Se- 

 walik Range, Punjab. 



226. Synaptes tibetanus, Gould. 



This new species I met with on the Salt Lakes of Ladakh in 

 August 1852; confined to Ladakh, and not found in India. 



227. Francolinus vulgaris, Stephens. 

 Tetrao francolinus, Linnaeus. 



Local name, Kala Tetur. Black Partridge of Europeans. 



The Black Partridge enjoys a far wider range than any of the 

 other Francolins of India. It is plentiful in Bombay and Bengal, 

 and on the lower ranges of the Western Himalayas at all seasons. 

 Neither the torrid heat of the plains nor the snows of the high ranges 

 seem to affect this bird. I brought a pair to England with me in 

 1855; I think the species would thrive in this climate. It is not 

 gregarious ; seldom more than a pair are found together : its flesh is 

 pale and well-flavoured ; but neither the Black Partridge nor any of 

 the Indian game birds will bear comparison in this respect with the 

 game birds of Britain. They commence to pair about the beginning 

 of April on the Himalayas, but earlier on the plains of India ; the 

 young remain with the parents a long time, and are not fit for shoot- 

 ing until the latter end of October. During incubation the males 

 can be heard answering one another all over the mountains ; the call 

 is harsh, and composed of four distinct sounds following each other 

 in this manner : whee-wha-whieh a whleh, repeated at short intervals 

 when perched on a stone or in dense cover. 



228. Caccabis chukar (Gray). 



Chuckor of the natives and Europeans. 



It is found in small numbers among the ravines and low barren 

 hills north of the river Jhelum, Punjab ; but the low ranges of the 

 Western Himalayas may be said to be its proper limits ; from this 

 it extends northwards to Tibet and Chinese Tartary, as far north as 

 Europeans have yet penetrated. It is said to abound in Persia and 

 Afghanistan. I have no doubt, from the countries it frequents and 

 its nature and habits, this bird would thrive equally well on the 

 mountains of Scotland. Its favourite haunts are bleak and barren 

 mountains covered only with low scrub. Usually seen in coveys ; 

 the flight is strong and rapid. The breeding-season commences 

 about the middle of May ; the nest, composed of dried grass, is 

 placed under the cover of a jutting rock, or in thick jungle. It lays 

 from nine to twelve eggs of a pure white colour, which are usually 

 hatched in July. The young birds grow rapidly, and attain the size 



