GALLICEEX CINEREA. 
793 
drier portions of the centre of the peninsula, Behar, and the North-west Provinces (except in the sub- 
Himalayan zone), the Punjab, Rajpootana, and Sindh. Mr, Blanford, however, notes its occurrence in 
Sindh, and considers it to be a straggler to that Province. Mr. Adam only saw it once at the Sambhur 
Lake, and that is the sole record in ‘ Stray Feathers ’ of its occurrence in that part of India. Jerdon 
writes that it is far from common in Southern India, as also in Central India, but says that it is the reverse 
in Lower Bengal, and still more plentiful in Sylhct, Chittagong, and Burmah. Mr. Ball notes it from 
the R-ajmehal hills and Manbhum; and Mr. Cripps says that it is very common during the rains (though absent 
in the cold weather) all over the country in Furreedpore, wherever there is standing paddy. He likewise 
speaks of it breeding in the Dacca and Tipperah districts. 
Mr. Oates records it as common in Upper Pegu. Mr. Hume likewise records it from Arakan and Lower 
Pegu ; but I observe that it did not come under Dr. Armstrong’s notice in his exploration of the Irrawaddy 
Delta. Captain Wardlaw Ramsay procured it at Tonghoo; and Messrs. Hume and Davison only observed 
it in the central and northern portions of Tenassei'im, noting it from Thatone, Attaran River, Tavoy, and 
Shymotee. The latter gentleman met with it commonly in the Andamans about Aberdeen, but did not 
see it at all in the 2s icobars. From the Malay peninsula there is a specimen in the Calcutta Museum recorded 
by Blyth, and no doubt it is common there. 
It is found in Java, where it was procured by S. Muller, Kuhl, Von Ilasselt, and Diard. In Borneo it 
is piobablj pretty evenly distributed ; for Mr. Mottley procured it in the extreme south at Banjermassing, 
and recently Mr. Treacher obtained it in the north-west on the Lawas river. From Borneo it extends (probably 
tlnough lalawan) to the Philippines, where it is, however, only known as inhabiting Luzon, specimens having 
been procured at Manilla by Messrs. Cuming and Dussumier. In the island of Formosa Swinhoe obtained it ; 
and on the mainland of China it is found as far north as Cheefoo, extending westward to Szechuen and 
according to David, as far north as the basin of the Yangtse. It inhabits, in all probability, the intervening 
regions of Cochin China and Siam, in common with other species found in the Malay Peninsula and China. 
Habits. The Kora, as it is called in India, affects long grass, standing corn or paddy, sedgy, reedv 
marshes, and such-like damp situations which afford it complete cover. Although in wild districts, wdiere it 
is very plentiful, it may be seen in the open, where its haunt is guarded by a belt of impenetrable jungle or 
scrub, yet in cultivated and inhabited districts it affects the greatest concealment in the daytime, and is, 
I imagine, entirely nocturnal as regards its manner of feeding and habit of moving about. I have never once 
seen it in paddy-fields or grassy swamps on the move, but have invariably put it up when firing at some 
other biid. It then flies swiftly and takes sometimes a long stretch on the wing, carrying its legs straight 
out behind it. I have generally found it among rather thick, moderately high rushes; but it frequently 
resorts to paddy-fields, and is consequently called “Paddy-fowl” by sportsmen, who flush it when Snipe‘- 
shootmg, and generally do not let it escape, as its flesh is very good eating. 
It has never been my good fortune to hear its remarkable note, which, I apprehend, is uttered chiefly in 
t ic breeding-season. Mr. Oates says it has a loud, deep, booming call, and that it is crepuscular in its habits. 
“ Its stomac V ; he remarks, “ is extremely muscular ; one I examined contained green rice, rice-leaves and 
a small shell.” ’ 
Mr. Davison writes of it “ The Watercock found at the Andamans belies its name by never (as far 
as I have observed) being found near water. The only places in which I have observed it are the sugarcane- 
fields; m these it is not uncommon, especially about Aberdeen. During the day it keeps under shelter • 
but m the morning and evening conies into the open to feed, seldom, however, wandering far from cover to 
which it retreats on the slightest alarm.” In Tenasserim the same writer states that these birds were most 
common about rice-fields m the mornings and evenings. 
I have found its food to consist of paddy- and grass-seeds, usually mixed with aquatic insects. Jerdon 
has some interesting notes on its habits, which I transcribe as follows It affects concealment much more 
than the Waterhens, running with activity through the tangled grass or paddy, or on the surface of weedy 
tanks. It feeds on rice and other grains, or shoots of various water-plants, and also on small mollusks anil 
insects. It is a very noisy bird, and its loud, sonorous, booming crie 3 , especially during the breeding-season 
must be familiar to many. ' & 3 
