-4^0 tbteaonidjI;. 



Typically the eggs are what I should call sphero-conoidal in 

 shape, that is to say, broad blunt cones based on hemispheres. In 

 colour and in shape they very much resemble specimens of the 

 eggs of our Common Pheasant (P. eolcMcus) which I haye from 

 England. They are of course smaller, but by no means so much 

 so as the relative difference in the sizes of the two birds would lead 

 one to expect. They are moderately glossy and perfectly unspotted, 

 and the colour varies from a slightly greenish to a brownish fawn- 

 colour, or in some, as I ought perhaps to call it, stone-colour. 

 Some of the eggs might perhaps be best described as drab- 

 coloured. 



The eggs vary greatly in size, from 1-36 to 1-8 in length, and 

 from 1-18 to 1-38 in breadth; but the average of seventy is 1-56 

 by 1-28. 



Francolinus pictus (J. & S.). The Painted Partridge. 



Francolinua pictua (J. ^ S.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 561 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. <§• E. no. 819. 



The Painted Partridge or Prancolin is found in suitable country 

 in most parts of the northern half of the Peninsula of India, ex- 

 tending northwards, as noticed when speaking of the previous 

 species, as far as a line drawn from the Eunn of Cutch to Gwalior 

 and from this latter to Ganjam. Here and there it may cross this 

 line for a short distance, but I believe that this artificial line of 

 demarcation will be found to be tolerably correct. 



Writing from Oomraotee (Berar), Mr. J. Aitken says : — " The 

 Painted Partridge (F. pictus) breeds during the monsoon. Shortly 

 after the commencement of the rains, the birds may be heard calling 

 loudly all over the fields, which are then covered with the young 

 crops, and the greatest number of eggs are laid during the months 

 of August and September. The nest is usually to be found in 

 strips or isolated patches of grass and bush between cultivated 

 fields. Five to eight eggs may be found in one nest." 



Writing from Jhansi, whence he sent me many of their eggs, 

 Mr. F. R. Blewitt remarked : — " This species breeds from the 

 middle of July to September. The nest, which is usually placed 

 on the ground in a slight excavation, and under the shelter of a 

 bash or thick patch of grass, is made of roots of grass and grass 

 itself loosely put together, — quite a common-made nest. 



" The regular number of eggs is about seven or eight, in colour 

 of a smoky-white generally, but when fresh-laid they are of a light 

 reddish white, gradually changing to smoky-white as the process of 

 incubation goes on. The fair average length of the eggs is 1*43 

 and breadth 1-19." 



Dr. Jerdon notes that " the female breeds from June to August, 

 laying seven or eight eggs of a creamy or smoky white, generally 

 near the shelter of some bush." 



Colonel Butler writes from Mount Aboo : — " The Painted Par- 

 tridge is common in the plains, but does not ascend the hills. It 



