tit Miifii iiiMiaii 



Microperdix erythrorhynchus, Sykes. 



VemaCUlar NaaiOS. — [Kokni-lowa (Hindustani ?) ; Kadai (Tamil) 



HROUGHOUT the Pulneys and Nilgiris, in the 

 Wynad and Coorg, and thence northwards along 

 the Western Ghats, at any rate as far north as the 

 latitude of Bombay, the Painted Bush-Quail is 

 found in suitable situations. It also occurs in hills 

 eastwards of the Ghats, in Mysore, Belgaum, Satara, 

 Dharwar, &c, and single specimens have been ob- 

 tained near Sholapur, and near Poona itself. 



Whether it extends at all northwards of Bombay, or whether 

 again it stretches southwards from the Pulneys into the Assambu 

 or Cardamom Hills, I have been unable to ascertain ; and, 

 generally, I may say that, well-known as this species is, its 

 range has as yet been very imperfectly determined. 



We do know, however, that it is a purely Indian form, con- 

 fined to the Peninsula, and certainly not extending up, as so 

 many other southern forms do, even as far north as Mount Abu. 



I HAVE only myself seen this species about the gardens of 

 Ootacamund. Mr. Davison, who has watched, shot and snared 

 them for years, remarks : — 



" The Painted Bush-Quail is very abundant on the Nilgiris 

 and their slopes, and is not uncommon in the Wynad. They 

 always occur in bevies, numbering eight to twelve birds. They of 

 course avoid the inner depths of the jungles, but are found on 

 the outskirts, especially where there is good dense cover, such as 

 the common brake fern ; but their favourite resort is rather rocky 

 ground, interspersed with bushes and dense clumps of fern and 

 high grass, especially when such places abut on or are near 

 cultivation, or any road along which cattle, carrying grain, 

 habitually pass. 



" About the station of Ootacamund they are, even to this 

 day, not uncommon ; and in the grounds of almost all the 

 outlying houses, where these are tolerably wooded, one or more 

 coveys are sure to be found. In the mornings and evenings, 

 they are very fond of coming out into the open, and I have 



