2. Light precipitation in winter with considerably greater amounts 
in summer, This is the pattern over much of the productive range of 
the northern gray francolin (F.p. interpositus), in upper West Pakistan 
and northern India. It arises from a weak northeast monsoon in winter 
and a heavier southwest monsoon in summer. The northern gray francolin 
is often abundant where this pattern prevails. 
3. Little rain throughout the year except in summer. In this 
pattern the northeast monsoon is largely lacking, but summer rainfall 
coming with the southwest monsoon is often considerable. This is the 
pattern in eastern West Pakistan, in Rajasthan in western India and in 
much of southern India. Mecranensis, interpositus and pondicerianus all 
thrive under this pattern of precipitation. 
4. Fair to heavy precipitation throughout the year except for 1 to 
3 dry months. This pattern, rather limited in extent, occurs in parts 
of East Punjab, western Bihar in northern India, and in Madras to the 
south, Interpositus is fairly common in these areas where the cover is 
not too dense. 
A comparison of precipitation under these patterns is presented in 
Table 4, 
Temperatures 
Gray francolins seem impervious to summer heat. We have seen them 
near Hyderabad, West Pakistan, in sunny openings where the thermometer 
registered 120°F, It has climbed to 124°F, Average maximum summer 
temperatures in the more arid parts of their range are often above 110°F 
for extended periods yet francolins are also abundant where it is from 
90° to 100°F, Minimum summer averages vary from 52° to 76°F, though 
they are somewhat higher in semi-desert areas, 
Winter temperatures are also usually high, seldom dropping below 
freezing, though average minimums of 23°F in January are recorded for 
the uplands of Pakistan, Baluchistan and the Helmud valley of Afghanistan, 
Through northern India it is generally warmer, varying from 40° to 55°F, 
Frost is by no means uncommon but the ground is seldom frozen even to the 
depth of an inch in the coldest parts of its range. Snow is extremely 
rare. A detailed monthly analysis of temperatures in relation to pre- 
cipitation ‘is presented on pages 62 and 63. These climacurves, constructed 
as indicated on page 18, are based on records from 30 stations throughout 
the entire range of the gray francolin. 
Comparison with stations in the United States 
Only the northern gray francolin (F.p. interpositus) has been intro- 
duced in numbers into the United States. To compare temperatures and 
precipitation within the range of this subspecies with those in the States, 
climacurves based on records from 35 stations were constructed on a sea- 
sonal basis. Winter is represented by December through February, spring, 
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