1837.] On two new Genera of Rasorial Birds. 305 



feather. Alar and caudal plumes, internally, dusky, and for the most 

 part immaculate, but exhibiting a freckled aspect on the external edge 

 by confusion of the proximate hues. The female has tl\e top of the 

 head and neck olive, like the back ; the bright rusty hue of those parts 

 in the male being transferred to her throat and front of her neck. Her 

 cheeks are, for the most part, hoary white, more or less dotted with 

 black, sublinearly from the beak under the eye to the ears. Her breast 

 is blue, like the males : but she has no white gorget across the top of it. 

 A line of black dots encloses the red throat and frontal neck, passing 

 from the eye like a zone down either side of the neck, and meeting on the 

 top of the breast, in the situation of the male's gorget. In both sexes 

 the bill is always black, and the orbitar skin crimson : but the legs 

 change from fleshy blue grey with a reddish tint into deep red. The 

 iris is brown : the nails horn colour, passing with the legs and feet, into 

 red. The young at first resemble the female, assuming the mature 

 plumage very gradually in the course of three moults, with transitions 

 too tedious for my taste. But the species, in all its changes, may be 

 instantly known from what has been above stated. 



I am tempted to add to the above generic definitions, another calcu- 

 lated for our Hill Chikore, the Perdix Chukor of Hardwicke, but which 

 differs materially from the type both of Perdix and of Francolinus. 

 It has a bill stronger than either, and, with the nares, extremely 

 resembling those of oui; Lerwa; but the bill is more compressed; and 

 the Chukora is distinguished by a strength of legs far surpassing any 

 bird of the family. It has some other peculiarities which the following 

 character may perhaps serve to pourtray, as a new generic or sub- 

 generic type. 



Bill shorter than the head, exceedingly strong, with a large vaulted 

 compressed maxilla, and nearly concealed mandibula. Nares subver- 

 tical, small, opened obliquely towards the head. Head plumose. Edge 

 of the eyelids nude and red. Legs and feet very strong. Tarsi 

 nude, sufficiently elevate, with heavy salient scales and blunt spurs. 

 Wings not bowed, scarcely gradated, 3d quill usually longest, 1st and 

 2d not much less: all three narrowed towards the points ; the primes 

 emarginated on both webs. Tail longish, firm and straight, but nearly 

 concealed by the coverts. 



If the above distinctions appear worthy of notice, the genus or sub- 

 genus may be called Chacura ; and the typic species Chacura pugnax. 



Habits, exclusively monticolous, on elevate bare, dry, stony slopes; 

 gregarious in large coveys. Lays many eggs of a white colour, in a 

 careless nest, after the manner of the partridges. Has a very sonorous 

 call, and the males are famous for courage and pugnacity, being most 

 easily tamed and shewing none of the shyness of the generality of 

 partridges, 



