THE EASTERN OR CHINESE FRANCOLIN. 2Q 



they have a pleasant, wild effect, as they sweep over the sides 

 of the towering hills. The flesh of this Francolin is white and 

 insipid. 



"The South China Francolin was common everywhere in 

 Hainan, and we repeatedly heard its loud note. At Lingshing 

 (S. E. Hainan) I bought three males from a Chinese bird- 

 catcher. He had caught them by a slip noose, with the help 

 of a decoy bird. On our return to the capital (2nd April) 

 we found them extremely common about the grave-covered 

 plains, and often saw, as we passed along the road from the sea- 

 port to the city, a cock Francolin perched on the top of a 

 grave-mound, shrieking out its loud call. The Hainan skins 

 are similar to those from South China. 



"The Chinese 'Gazetteer' says of this bird : — 'The n Chay- 

 koo" [Francolin], when flying, is obliged to turn towards the 

 south. Its cry sounds, " kow, chow, kill tik." It also says, " Hing 

 puh tih y ay y ko-ko." [It is indeed of no use, my brother !]" 



Sir R. H. Schomburgk also furnishes a note on this species : — 



" This beautiful bird," he says, " is sometimes brought alive 

 in cages to Bangkok, where they fetch handsome prices. Their 

 general resorts are the rice-fields and pasture-grounds, which 

 they frequent in flocks. I have been told that at night they 

 retire to trees, and there they make their nests. I cannot vouch 

 for this assertion : but since our own Partridge selects sometimes 

 a tree for nidification, such may be the case with the ' nock 

 kahtah! When surprised while on the ground, they rise with a 

 whirring noise, similar to our Partridge. They are caught by a 

 decoy bird ; however, they are not frequently found in cages at 

 Bangkok ; and I believe that those which are brought here 

 soon perish. Such has been the case with those which I have 

 had in my possession. I found them plentiful at Aughin, on 

 the eastern coast of the Gulf of Siam, and my huntsman 

 brought them frequently as an addition to my breakfast or 

 dinner. They are as delicious as our home species. I have 

 been told they are likewise to be found in the environs of 

 Bangkok." 



The Chinese Francolin breeds within our limits only, so 

 far as I yet know, in the comparatively dry portions of Upper 

 Pegu. It does not, I believe, occur in the valley of the Irra- 

 waddy much, if at all, lower down than Prome. 



Mr. Theobald records having found a nest of this species 

 at Meadey, a little north-east of Thayetmyo, on the 4th 

 June. It was placed upon the ground, and contained four 

 uniform greenish cream-coloured eggs, measuring 1*4 by 1*15. 



From Thayetmyo, Mr. Oates writes that this species "is 

 particularly vociferous in June and July. I have never myself 

 actually taken the eggs, but the Burmans say that the nest 

 is situated at the foot of a bamboo clump on a hill-side, and 



