Ths Common Birds of the Nilgiris 



hen are black with broad bufF margins. The 

 cock may be described as a dull red bird with a 

 grey head and some bufF scale-like markings, 

 and the hen as a grey bird, heavily barred with 

 black. 



The only quail commonly seen on the Nil- 

 giris is the painted bush-quail (Microperdix 

 erythrorhynchus). A bird in shape like a par- 

 tridge, but not much larger than a sparrow, is 

 probably this species. The prevailing hue is 

 umber brown with coarse black blotches. The 

 cock has the breast white and the head black 

 with a white eyebrow. The head of the hen is 

 dull red. The bill, legs, and feet of both sexes 

 are red. 



THE CHARADRIID^ OR PLOVER FAMILY 



This very large family includes the plovers, 

 sandpipers, and snipes. It is not very well 

 represented on the Nilgiris. In winter snipe 

 and woodcock visit those mountains and afford 

 good sport to the human residents, but all have 

 gone northward long before the summer visitors 

 arrive. 



Several species of sandpiper likewise visit the 



Nilgiris in winter ; one of these — ^the wood 

 229 



