Birds in Sanskrit Literature repetition and at the close of the day's lesson applied a little chalk to their throats to ensure a good memory. The male Red Turtle, the , repeats his groo-gurr-goo's every morning and has besides a whitish throat. also means a Brahman who is ready to repeat the Sütras at call and this seems to have stimulated the poet's fancy. Describing a morning scene he refers to the male Dove's repetitive call, and humorously suggests that he would not keep on calling! (the घुसंज्ञा सूत्र–काशिका, 1.1.20) unless he had attended a class of Paninian grammar. His whitish throat, as if marked with chalk, is additional proof of the statement ! 264 54 SAND GROUSE 1. Sand-Grouse occupies an intermediate position between the Pigeons and the Partridges. This fact has been recognised in their Hindi name, aftarx (fr. wz, 'a fighter, fafere, a Partridge) as all Sand-Grouses are known to be pugnacious among themselves; cf. we gege for a fighting Cock in Art. 55-B, para 1. The Common Sand-Grouse is known in North India as काकर (having a harsh call) which is apparently the same as ककर of बाज संहिताः “ककराञ्छिशिराय, विककरान् हेमन्ताय"- 24, 20 विककर (विशिष्ट ककर) would then be a different species of Sand Grouse possessing some particular character, e.g. a distinctive plumage or a strik- ing colour-pattern, and the Painted Sand-Grouse, beautifully marked with a triple band of white-black-white on the forehead and a tri-colour gorget of chestnut, buff and black on the breast, should be the fa. Large numbers of Sand-Grouse of different kinds visit North-West India, a number spreading further to the east, in the cold season, and this explains the allocation of these birds to the personified deities of Winter-months. 2. The definition of we by fi qnoted in the artis "पीतः कृष्णगल: कृष्णचव चरण: रक्तपृष्ठ:" This can only apply to the Large Imperial Sand-Grouse which visits North India in large numbers in winter. It has a good deal of pale and rich buff in its plumage including some yellow, a black patch on the lower throat, and bluish or plumbeous grey bill and feet. At any rate is not a Partridge according to this authority. The synonymy" ऋकरकूकणौ समो" –अमर, , etc. would, therefore, seem to refer to these birds as allied to the Partridge, but as their exact identity had been forgotten lexicographers rendered the names as a Partridge, more specially the Swamp Partridge (कुतितिर- Prakrit, कायर) which, however, is incorrect; see Art. 55-C. वसन्तराज on the other hand mentions कर as different from कृष्णतित्तिरि वृत्ततित्तिरि (Swamp Partridge, Art. 55-C, 9), and fefefe- "कृष्णतित्तिरिरितीह पतवी, वृत्ततित्तिरिरिति प्रथितो यः । यश्च पक्षिषु मतोऽधिपमल्लो, गौरतित्तिरिसमः शकुनेन । खगोऽव यो लावकनामधेयः खगौ चकोरककराभिधानौ" । 8.30-31
