582 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Ghats, and on the various hill ranges, being rare in the low 

 Carnatic and bare table-land. Colonel Sykes found it on the 

 higher ranges of the western Ghats at 4,000 feet, and it is found 



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throughout Central India as far as the northern slopes of the 

 Rajrnahai, Monghyr and Mirzapore hills. It is not generally found 

 on the north bank of the Ganges,, but Hodgson gives it as found in 

 the Sub-Himalayan zone ; and Adams says that it is found in the 

 valleys of the lower ranges of the Himalayas. It does not occur 

 in Lower Bengal, that I know of, nor in any of the countries east of 

 the Ganges, but it is said to be common in the N. W. Provinces. 



I have very little doubt of its being Valenciennes' bird, 

 although Sykes is inclined to think it distinct, but the markings, 

 as described, are quite those of the present species and not 

 of the next. Adams quotes it as Perd. Asiatica, Latham, but 

 I am inclined to apply that specific name to the red Bush-quail, 

 which is stated by Latham to occur chiefly in the Mahratta 

 country, whilst cambaiensis is from Guzerat, where, as far as 

 we know, only the present species is found. Adams, however, 

 states that he has only seen this bird in the upper Himalayas, 

 and not on the plains of India. 



In the South of India this Bush-quail frequents open forests ; 

 thick patches of jungle, and especially grassy hill sides with a few 

 scattered bushes : also fields near hills or jungle. Riding through 

 some of the more open forests, especially in the upland districts ; 

 a bevy of this little bird is often seen crossing the road, or feeding 

 on grain dropped by cattle. In the North-west Provinces, how- 

 ever, they appear to frequent gardens, bushes and hedge-rows 

 in more open ground, near stations. Hodgson states them 

 to be migratory in Nepal. A writer in the Bengal Sporting Magazine, 

 vol. xi., says that " they are very abundant in the plains 

 of upper India, indeed in some places, scarcely any other game 

 is to be had. According to my observations they are not migratory, 

 but pair and breed about the same time as the Rain-quial (Coturnix 

 coromandelicus) in the rains. During this period, the plumage of 

 the male is really handsome. I have seen the parent birds leading 

 forth their young exactly as a Partridge would. A covey of them 

 in my garden never fails me for breaking in my setters." 



