328 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
683. ARBORICOLA RUFOGULARIS. 
THE RED-THROATED HILL-PARTRIDGE. 
Arboricola rufogularis, Bl. J. A. S. B. xviii. p. 819 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 578 ; Bl. 
B. Burm. p. 150 ; Hume, S. F. v. p. 114 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 444 ; Hume^ 
8. F. viii. p. Ill ; Hume 8f Marsh. Game Birds, ii. p. 75^ pi. ; Scully, S. F. viii. 
p. 349. Arborophila rufogularis, Hume, S. F ii. p. 450. Arboricola 
tickelli, Hume, in Hume 8r Marsh. Game Birds, ii. p. 78, note. 
Description. — Male and female. Very similar to A. intermedia. The 
throaty fore neck and sides of tlie neck_, instead of being blacky are rufous 
spotted with black ; and the rufous of the fore neck is divided from the grey 
of the breast by a black band. 
Legs and feet pale pinky red ; bill horny black ; irides deep brown ; 
orbital skin bright red. (Davison.) 
Length II inches^ tail 3^ wing 5*5^ tarsus 1*5^ bill from gape I' I. The 
female is rather smaller. 
The Tenasserim race of this Partridge is said by Mr. Hume to differ 
from the Himalayan bird in constantly wanting the black band^ which in 
this latter separates the rufous of the fore neck from the grey of the 
breast. In some Himalayan birds_, however^ according to the same 
authority,, this same black line^ although indicated^ is imperfect ; and 
I therefore do not think this character sufficient to allow the Tenasserim 
to take specific rank as a distinct species. The difference between the 
Himalayan and Arrakan Partridges is, in my opinion, of far greater 
stability and importance, and entitles the two to be considered specifically 
distinct. 
The Red-throated Hill-Partridge was procured by Mr. Davison on the 
higher slopes of Mooleyit mountain in Tenasserim, where it appears to be 
very abundant. Colonel Tickell, many years ago, also obtained it at the 
same locality. 
It is found along the Himalayas from Assam to Kumaon. It will pro- 
bably be found on the mountains of Independent Burm ah and Karennee. 
This Partridge appears to have the usual habits of the Hill-Partridges. 
These birds, judging from A. atrogularis, make their nests, as might 
be expected, on the ground, and lay about four eggs, which are white. 
A. charltoni is said to have occurred in South Tenasserim; but on what 
authority I do not know. Mr. Blyth does not include it in his Catalogue 
of Burmese birds ; and in the absence of any definite evidence in support 
of its occurrence in Burmah, I exclude it from this work. It is closely 
allied to A. chloropus, but has the legs red, not green; it also differs in 
having the back mottled and freckled, not barred conspicuously, with 
brown, and the shafts of this part are buflP-coloured ; the chin and throat 
are partially surrounded by a broken black band. 
