PODOCES HUMILIS, Aue.

Dingy Podoces.

Podoces humilis, Hume, Ibis, 1871, p. 408.—Hume & Henderson, ‘Lahore to Yarkand,’ p. 247, pl. 23 (1873).
—Hume, Stray Feathers, ii. p. 452.

 

T acres with Mr. Hume in referring this plain-coloured bird also to the genus Podoces; but it lacks the
ornamental colouring of P. Hendersoni and P. Panderi. As will be seen below, it is a bird of somewhat
different habits to the other species, and is further distinguished by a difference in the length of bill in the
two sexes.

The following short note by Dr. Henderson (7. ¢.) gives all that is known respecting the habits of this
curious species :—

‘This strange bird was only seen above Kitchik-Yilak, on the way to Yarkand ; on the return journey it
was not met with. It frequents short grassy downs, at a height of about 1100 feet. They were not in
flocks, but were scattered all over the hill-side.”

More recently, Mr. Hume has recorded this species from the borders of Sikkim. His original description
is given below, and figures of the bill and wings will be found in the elaborate work above referred to.

“‘Male.—F orehead, lores, and an indistinct streak over the fore part of the eye fulvous white; front, top,
and back of the head, back, scapulars, and rump a dull earthy brown; a broad yellowish-white patch upon
the nape; the four central tail-feathers blackish brown, tipped and margined rele a paler hue ; lateral tail-
feathers white, tipped and margined on exterior webs with dingy fulvous ; rons brown, the oe slightly
darker brown, narrowly margined and tipped with paler brown; lower parts dingy fulvous white. Total
length 7-5 inches; bill at front 0°97 to 1; wing 3°75; tail 2°8; tarsus 1°25.”

Mr. Hume adds :—*‘ The female has more of a rufescent tinge on the back and Scapulars than the uuelle,
and has the quills a darker hair-brown, the tertiaries and some of the secondaries more cay ee
with a pale rufescent brown. In both sexes the bastard wing appears to ve a Sr a
length 7 inches; bill from front 0°75; wing 3°55; tail 2:4; tarsus 13. ot be noticed that the female
is smaller in most of her dimensions, and has the bill conspicuously shorter.’

The birds are represented in the Plate of the size of life.

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