24 THE PAINTED PARTRIDGE OR SOUTHERN FRANCOLIN. 



towards noon-day dusting itself, fowl-like, in the dry, finely pulve- 

 rized soil, every now and then uttering a low double chirp. In 

 such places, too, when the sun is hot, it will be met with basking 

 in the little hollows that it has scraped in the ground. In fact, 

 I have sometimes found it basking thus, quite in the open, 

 though surrounded at short distances by bushes. 



It is one of the least pugilistic of game birds, is easily caught 

 in Quail nets, and very soon becomes extremely tame. It makes 

 a very gentle and affectionate pet, and even though five or six of 

 different sexes may be confined together, they always seem to 

 live in perfect harmony. 



The Painted Partridge is a permanent resident, and 

 breeds pretty well wherever it occurs, although it no doubt 

 changes its ground a little in its own particular neighbourhood, 

 as the supply of food varies. 



Its nest is placed on the ground, usually under the shelter of 

 a thick tussock of grass, or some dense bush, but at times under 

 an overhanging rock, and not uncommonly it is in the midst of 

 standing crops, particularly sugarcane. It is a saucer-shaped de- 

 pression in the soil, scratched out by the birds, and more or less 

 thinly or thickly lined with dry grass, roots or sugarcane leaves — 

 in fact whatever material of this nature may be most readily 

 available. 



The nest is not easily found without the aid of dogs ; and the 

 female sits so close, that you may pass within a yard of her, 

 when on the nest, without her moving. 



Five to eight eggs are, I believe, the full complement ; but I 

 have heard people talk of finding ten and twelve in a nest. 



The laying season lasts in different localities from the end of 

 June to nearly the end of September, but the majority of eggs 

 are, I believe, laid in August. 



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

 Painted Partridge 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 is the largest number of eggs which I 

 have known to 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 shel- 

 ter of a bush or thick patch of grass, is made of roots of grass 

 and grass itself loosely put together, — quite a common made 

 nest. 



