20 THE PAINTED PARTRIDGE OR SOUTHERN FRANCOLIN. 



pretty common, as it is also in suitable localities in the Shola- 

 pur district. 



Southwards again, it does not appear* to occur much west of 

 the Trunk Road running from Kolhapur, via Belgaum and Dhar- 

 war to Sirsi ; nor, in this direction, do I know for certain of its 

 occurrence beyond about six miles south of Sirsi. 



In the Madras Presidency, I learn from Mr. Huntley P. 

 Gordon, Mr. Cardozo, and Captain Bellis of the 13th L. I., that 

 in the Bellary district it has only been observed about Rarnan- 

 droog and the Saudur jungles. Mr. Cardozo adds that he has 

 shot it in the Anamalai Hills of the Kurnool district, in the 

 Godavari and Nellore districts. 



Mr. Egan again says that he has shot it in the Cuddapah and 

 Nellore districts on both sides of the Eastern Ghats. 



It appears also to occur in hilly semi-jungle country, and 

 where there is much grass in the Kistna, and other more northern 

 districts right up to the Goomsur talukaof the Ganjam district. 



It seems almost entirely absent from Mysore. Jerdon had 

 heard of its being obtained near Bangalore, but I have obtained 



* For the following valuable note on this point I am indebted to Captain T. M. 

 Ward :— 



" The bird appears to be a lover of a semi-jungle country, but so far as I have 

 observed, it does not extend westward beyond a well-defined line, which I will men- 

 tion further on. 



" I do not know anything of the country between Poona and Satara, or Satara and 

 Kolhapur, but I have often been told that the bird abounds about the latter place, 

 and I know it is found near Belgaum. I have heard and seen it along the road 

 from Belgaum to Dharwar, the whole way, and in the compounds of Dharwar itself; 

 and to the west of the station it is very common. So it is along the whole of the 

 western side of the Dharwar Collectoi-ate, but it seems to extend very little further 

 east than the limit of rice cultivation and the edge of the jungles. 



"From Tadas (old style Turrus) to Mundgod, and at Mundgod itself, and down 

 to Pala, I have found it. It is also to be met with close to Sirsi, and a few miles 

 south of that place, along the Sirsi and Siddapur road ; but I am pretty sure that 

 it does not extend further to the west, or at all events very little, than the made 

 road from Tadas to Sirsi. I have camped at four or five different places near the 

 road from Sirsi to Yellapur, and never seen or heard it there, nor at Kirwatti, where 

 I have often been on shooting expeditions, though I should think the latter place, 

 which is only just beyond the Dharwar frontier, would be but little out of its 

 range. 



"The line which it seems to have chosen then, is from Kolhapur to Sirsi, along 

 the Trunk Road vid Belgaum and Dharwar, and I think I may say but little west of 

 that road, and I believe too, but little east either, as a rule. But in this matter a 

 good deal depends on soil and cultivation. It does not appear to like black soil, 

 and it seems to be necessary to its existence that water and bush cover should be 

 abundant." 



On this latter point Mr. Vidal remarks : — 



' ' Captain Ward says it avoids black soil, but at any rate it is found in Tasgaon 

 in the middle of the cotton country, and mostly in sugar cover." He adds : — 



" Siddapur is just 20 miles south of Sirsi within the Kanara boundary. 



" Pala is 21 miles north-east of Sirsi ; also in Kanara. 



" Mundgod vs, 14 miles due north of Pala, also in Kanara. 



" Kirwatti is 30 miles north of Sirsi, also in Kanara. 



" Tadas is 18 miles north-east oi Mundgod, and 30 miles south of Dharwar, and 

 is in the Dharwar district. 



" All these places, except Tadas, are on or close to the boundary between Kanara 

 and Dharwar or Mysore, and as I am told are open country like the Dharwar dis- 

 tricts and not jungly country like Kanara generally." 



