HIMALAYAN BLOOD PARTRIDGE 13 



writes as follows: "This color scheme is admirably calculated to protect the bird from 

 notice in its favorite surroundings, namely, the granite rocks covered with a pale, 

 greenish lichen, interspersed with patches of a dull crimson fungus. They seldom take 

 to wing, but run quickly and hide amongst the rocks." 



I concur in this opinion only to a limited extent. In the first place, there is no 

 doubt but that the colours of both sexes of Ithagenes are at times protective. What I 

 consider absolute proof of this came to me one day when I was watching a flock of the 

 birds as they scratched and picked along a bit of open rocky slope. I had them all well 

 within the range of my stereos and suddenly, without warning, every bird squatted, and 

 turning its head sideways, stared unblinkingly into the sky over my head. I twisted 

 partly over in my hiding place of stunted bamboo grass, but only after a long search did 

 I discover the speck in the heavens, which my glasses resolved into an eagle. Another 

 glance at the Partridges showed that all had remained motionless, and they did not 

 move for at least three minutes, when they suddenly resumed their feeding as if 

 nothing had happened. Now the rocks in this instance were coated with pale pink 

 primroses and brown lichens. So it was the females which matched more nearly the 

 latter general tint. There is no chance for the crimson spots and patches on the under 

 plumage — chin, breast and tail — of the male to function in any way whatever when the 

 bird is squatting — all are hidden from view. And we can hardly conceive that their 

 existence is chiefly protective when they are lacking in the males of some of the other 

 species of this genus, all of which inhabit similar open mountain slopes. 



The unconscious trust in the protection of a squatting position is, without doubt, 

 indicative of a protective value, such as we see in sand grouse and many other desert 

 birds, quail, and the young of skimmers and terns. But as in the Blood Partridges, to 

 be thus protective, the pattern of plumage need not exactly match the surroundings. 

 The legitimate extent and application of protective coloration may be summed up in 

 the female Blood Partridge. Clad in plumage of mottled reddish brown, she is yet 

 conspicuous when making the slightest movement even among the brown-lichened 

 rocks; she is inconspicuous when squatting, even among greenish grass or pink 

 primroses. 



HOME LIFE 



Up to the present time no authentic account of the breeding habits has been 

 recorded, nor has the nest or egg of this species been discovered by a white man. We 

 have knowledge of both, however, in the case of two related species, Kuser's and 

 Geoffroy's Blood Partridges (pages 27 and 32), and this data lends credence to the 

 following information given me and independently confirmed by several Lepchas and 

 Tibetans who were excellent observers and hunters. It may be taken for what it is 

 worth. 



The Blood Partridge is monogamous, and the pair of birds and their young keep 

 together throughout the winter following the breeding season. In courting, the male 

 spreads its tail and wings, drooping the latter, raises the crest, swells out the breast 

 feathers and struts before the female, turning round and round. The males fight 

 fiercely with each other. 



The nest is a hollow in dead leaves and moss, usually near a boulder or stump in 



