THE JUNGLE BUSH-QUAIL. 115 



generally roost on open ground, and associate in moderate-sized 

 coveys of from ten to twenty birds." 



Although these are eminently ground birds, they will at times, 

 probably only when frightened by dogs, perch upon trees. 

 I have myself observed this of the present species, and Mr, 

 Blewitt has noticed it in the case of the Rock Bush-Quail. 



I HAVE NEVER taken the eggs of this species myself, but it 

 appears that they lay from September to February, at least 

 I have received eggs, found in all these months. 



The nest, always placed on the ground under the shelter of 

 some bush or tuft of grass, is of moderate size, circular, and 

 shallow, more or less fitted into a corresponding depression of 

 the soil, and more or less neatly constructed of grass and roots. 

 Five to seven eggs seem to be the full complement ; in one 

 case a clutch of only four eggs was hard set. 



Mr. R. Thompson, writing from the Chanda district, says : — 

 * I found this nest on the 22nd of November ; it contained six 

 eggs. The nest itself was placed on the ground on a spot on 

 which grew a few scattered bunches of grass ; it was neatly 

 made of small roots and fine grass, saucer-shaped ; the cavity 

 about two and half inches in diameter. The old female sat 

 very close on her eggs, and only got off when I put out my 

 hand to take her. 



" The Jungle Bush-Quail breeds with us here between October, 

 November and December. In September I have seen the 

 birds pairing off, and by October none but couples are met with. 

 As soon as the young are able to fly, they begin to collect in 

 packs, in which the parent birds of the various coveys are 

 easily distinguishable by their size and plumage." 



Personally, my belief is that, even during the breeding 

 season, they are gregarious. Certainly I have flushed parties 

 in both November and December, as well as during the spring, 

 when also, undoubtedly, some birds breed. Whether some birds 

 breed in the autumn, others in the spring, or whether all general- 

 ly have two broods, I cannot say. 



Mr. Vidal writes : — 



"I found a nest on 17th January 1879 with two fresh eggs, 

 faint cafe ait lait colour, and in this month and the next all 

 the coveys contain young chicks." 



Eggs sent me (in each case with one of the parent birds) 

 are quite undistinguishable from those of the Rock Bush- 

 Quail. They are regular ovals, more or less pointed (but 

 never pronouncedly so) towards one end, have a faint gloss, and 

 are in colour a spotless creamy white varying to a very 

 pale cafe au lait tint. 



They vary from 0*96 to ri in length, and from 079 to 0*9 

 in breadth, but the average of 17 eggs is 10 by 0*83. 



