56 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 



that Island) have been introduced into the Mauritius, and sent 

 thence along with various Madagascar birds. It is more probable, 

 however, that some other species has been mistaken for it, 

 probably Tetrao madagascariensis, which, indeed, Gray places next 

 Galloperdix' in his genus Plectrophorus ; but which most probably 

 belongs to the African Francolins rather than to the Gallince. 



The Red Spur-fowl chiefly affects forests, or dense thickets of 

 bamboos, and is difficult to obtain without dogs, as it runs before 

 the sportsmen or beaters ; and, in driving some of 1|he large forests 

 for Deer, these Spur-fowl as well as Jungle-fowl and Pea-fowl often 

 run past the concealed gunner. On the Neilgherries good shots 

 can be had in beating the woods there, and two or three Spur-fowl 

 generally form part of a miscellaneous bag on those hills. Dogs 

 cause it to perch on trees at once, and it always roosts on trees 

 at night. It feeds on various kinds of grain, and very much on 

 insects, especially on various kind of bugs, larvae of small blattse, 

 &c, it comes less to the open to feed than Jungle-fowl, and I 

 have never flushed it in fields. It runs with its tail raised, and 

 is always considered a sort of Jungle-fowl by the natives. The 

 call is a sort of crowing cry which the Mahrattas have attempted 

 to imitate in their name, and the call note of the hen is quite 

 fowl-like. It is stated to breed in dense thickets in March and 

 April. The flesh, though rather dry, is of high flavour, and if, 

 as on the Neilgherries, it can be kept a few days, is really 

 excellent. 



17. Galloperdix lunulosus, Valenc. 



Perdix, apud Valenciennes — Blyth, Cat. 1457 — Francolinus 

 nivosus, Delessert Voy. aux. Indes pi. 10 — P. Hardwickii, Gray, 

 Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool., 1, pi. 52— Jerdon, 111. Ind. Orn. pi. 

 42 (the female.) — Jitta kodi, Tel. 



The Painted Spur-fowl. 



Descr. — Male, head, face, and neck variegated black and white, 



the feathers being black with white streaks and triangular spots, 



the head mostly black ; the upper plumage and wings rich chesnut, 



with white spots on the back, sides of neck, shoulders, and wing? 



