THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 715 



morning, the dogs put up a hen Tragopan that came overhead 



an easy shot, and, as I fired, I became aware of a bird like a 



gigantic robin red-breast shooting down on me, and with a 



hasty shot about ten foot in front of him I had bagged a right 



and left, cock and hen Tragopan sati/ra, the most gorgeous of 



game-birds.'' 



Occasionally, when walking along the higher hill-tracks, or when 



wandering along some nullah or ravine, one may tumble on a bird 



sunning itself in some bare patch, or perched in full view on rock 



or tree; such chances are, however, but very rare, and the hasty 



pot shot thiTs obtained is even less often fruitful of any results. 



Beebe states that from the few birds he saw of this species in 

 the few days he devoted to their study he came to the conclusion 

 that the Tragopans roosted far down in the valleys and fed higher 



This is not quite in agreement with the observations of sports- 

 men, who have spent many more years than he has days in their 

 haunts. These state that the Tragopans generally roost in the 

 highest part of their individual haunts, so that Beebe's birds must 

 have been exceptional in their habits. 



They appear to be almost entirely vegetable feeders, eating all 

 kinds of seeds, shoots and tendrils, and also feeding largel}^ on bulbs 

 and roots, in digging for which they frequently excavate holes of 

 some considerable size. 



(To be continued.') 



