Francolinus pictus (J. & S.).  
The Painted Partridge.

Francolinus pictus (J. & S.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 661; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 819.

The Painted Partridge or Francolin is found in suitable country in most parts of the northern half of the Peninsula of India, extending northwards, as noticed when speaking of the previous species, as far as a line drawn from the Runn of Cutch to Gwalior and from this latter to Ganjam. Here and there it may cross this line for a short distance, but I believe that this artificial line of demarcation will he found to be tolerably correct.

Writing from Oomraotee (Berar), Mr. J. Aitken says :- " The Painted Partridge (P. pictus) breeds during the monsoon. Shortly after the commencement of the rains, the birds may be heard calling loudly all over the fields, which are then covered with the young crops, and the greatest number of eggs are laid during the months of August and September. The nest is usually to be found in strips or isolated patches of grass and bush between cultivated fields.   Five to eight eggs may be found in one nest."

Writing from jhansi, whence he sent me many of their eggs, Mr. F. R. Blewitt remarked:- "This species breeds from the middle of July to September. The nest, which is usually placed on the ground in a slight excavation, and under the shelter of a bush or thick patch of grass, is made of roots of grass and grass itself loosely put together, - quite a common-made nest.

" The regular number of eggs is about seven or eight, in colour of a smoky-white generally, but when fresh-laid they are of a light reddish white, gradually changing to smoky-white as the process of incubation goes on. The fair average length of the eggs is 1.43 and breadth 1.19."

Dr. Jerdon notes that " the female breeds from June to August, laying seven or eight eggs of a creamy or smoky white, generally near the shelter of some bush."

Colonel Butler writes from Mount Aboo:- " The Painted Partridge is common in the plains, but does not ascend the hills.   It usually affects grass-beerhs, or preserves, and low bush-jungle, and breeds from the middle or end of July to the end of September, the greater number laying in August."

The eggs of this species are like those of the Black Partridge, typically very broad and obtuse at the large end and much pointed towards the small end. They are, however, more of the pegtopshape than these latter, the large end being flatter and less spherical. In size they are very much smaller than those of the Common Black Partridge, although in the birds themselves there is no such great difference, I think, in either size or weight. The colour varies a good deal; some eggs are drabby white with a very faint greenish tinge, others are brownish drab, others cream-colour, and some pale cafe-aur-lait. They are spotless and somewhat less glossy than those of the preceding species.

In length they vary from 1.3 to 1.48, and in breadth from 1.1 to 1.25 ; but the average of a score is 1.4 by 1.18.