18 'JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



; "any kind of fruit ; this predilection lie may have acquired in 



"his state of domestication. Both in his coop and when 



; " walking about in the verandah, he emitted frequently a 



" faint sound ; ^ut when disturbed or alarmed, the sound was 



" harsh ; and when flying up, it was with a whirring noise 



. " similar to that of our Partridges, but stronger. The female 



"thouoh so difi'erent in plumage, has the same manners as 



; "the male." 



Q?he\ are very commonly trapped by the Siamese and kept as, 

 cao-ed "birds, being frequently brought into Bangkok and sold there 

 for this purpose. Mr. E. G. Herbert kept some of these birds, 

 and his interesting notes to me show that the j^oung males in the 

 first autumn moult acquire practically the complete plumage of the 

 adult male. He was successful in hatching out some eggs under 

 hens, some of the young birds reaching maturity. Mr. Herbert's 

 observations confirm those of Sir H. Schomburgh's. 



The traps used to catch the wild birds appear to be of two kinds. 

 In one nooses are set round about a decoy in jungle haunted by 

 these I'heasants, and in the other nooses are set in openings in low 

 brush-wood fences in similar places ; the birds wander down the 

 fences, and then in walking through them get caught. In fact, 

 the trap is the same as already described as being in use amongst 

 BO many of the Eastern wilder tribes. 



As might be expected, they are said to be good eating, though 

 one of my correspondents refers to them as " very dry." 



(To he continued.') 



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o.;.)-U-r 



