ni iur-nkmi 



Excalfactoria chinensis, LinnS. 



Vernacular Names.— [Khair-butai, Kaneli, Nepal ;. Burli (Mahrathi) ; Ngon 

 (Burmese), Pegu -, Peeyoo, Pea-kow, Pikau (Malay) ; ] 



Peninsula. 



ERY little is known of the distribution of this lovely 

 species in India. 



In Ceylon it is fairly common, especially towards 

 the south of the island. 



Then although it doubtless must occur in suitable 

 localities there, I have no single record of its occur- 

 rence anywhere in the southernmost portion of the 

 But Jerdon tells us he once killed it in the 

 Carnatic — a very wide and vague term — and Mr. Laird writes to 

 me that there is a place about ten miles south of Belgaum on the 

 Dhawar road where he has procured it. 



North of this, I do not know of its occurring anywhere in the 

 western-half of India. On the eastern side it occurs in Rafpur, 

 and Mr. R. Thompson writes : — " I have found it in Mandla and 

 Balaghat, and as far south as the Godavari Valley, below 

 Bhadrachalam. I also met with it in suitable localities in 

 Bastar. In the Chanda district I have found it chiefly in the 

 valley of the Wainganga." 



It is also recorded from the Tributary Mahals, Singhbhoom 

 and Manbhoom. Then, eastwards again it is common in the cold 

 season about Calcutta and Dacca,* but I believe leaves both 

 these localities during the rainy season. It is found in Sylhet, 

 Cacharf, in the Khasia Hills, and again north of the Brahma- 



* Its distribution would appear most capricious, though doubtless, when we know 

 more about it, it will seem less so. Although common in the 24-Pergunnahs, Mr. 

 Rainey assures me, on the strength of his own long experience and that of two other 

 sportsmen who shoot all over the district, that it does not occur at all in Jcssore. 



t " The Painted Quail," writes Mr. J. Inglis, J 'is extremely common in Cachar 

 where it remains throughout the year and breeds. 



" It frequents thin grass lands, and is often met with around the edges of jungle. 

 "When flushed, it generally flies into thick cover, and it is very difficult to induce 

 again to take wing. 



"In March and April they seem to go more into open land, and at that time a 

 good number may be shot without the aid of dogs. In thickish grass this little 

 Quail tries the temper of a dog severely. I have seen a dog follow them foot by 

 foot for 50 yards before they would rise, and I dare say the dog's nose was within a 

 yard of them the whole time." 



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