Tab. LX XI.
PERDIX CHUKAR.

TueEre are now four species known of this remarkable group of Partridges, distinguished by their red bills
and tarsi, as well as by the uniform colouring of their backs and the barred feathering of their sides. This
general uniformity of colouring renders them so similar to each other, that to a casual observer they scarcely
appear to form more than one species. The specific differences are, however, easily ascertained by closer
examination. Three of them are well known to us as natives of Europe and the adjacent parts of Asia and
Africa. The present species is a native of the Himalaya, in which locality alone it has hitherto been taken.

We have had an opportunity of examining this beautiful bird in a living state in the Gardens of the Zoolo-
gical Society. Like the Red-legged Partridge of England, with which it strictly agrees in its disposition, it
manifested an irritable and pugnacious temper, and was perpetually at war with its fellow-captives.

The general plumage of the upper surface is ash-colour tinged with vinous especially across the back ; a
black line passes across the forehead, through the eyes, over the ear-coverts, extends down the sides of the
neck, and meets on the chest, encircling a space of pale yellow; the chest is vinous ash-colour ; the thighs
and abdomen tawny yellow ; the feathers of the sides are white at their base ; this white is bounded by a bar
of black, then succeeds a broad belt of tawny, then another bar of black, and next an edging of rich brown
along the rounded extremity of each feather ; the tail-feathers are grey, becoming rufous at their tips; the

beak and tarsi bright red.
It is figured of the natural size.

 

 

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