26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



are, however, exceptional, though comparatively a good deal more 

 often met with than they are in Gallus hanMva ferrvgineus. 



As a rule the surface is ver}^ fine, smooth and glossy, but they 

 vary from this to a surface which is densely pitted with tiny pores 

 like those found on a guinea-fowl's egg. In shapes they are typical 

 fowl's eggs, but in a large series a fairly wide divergence of shape 

 may be met with, from a long narrow oval almost the same at 

 either end to a broad scjuat oval with the smaller and distinctly 

 pointed and compressed. 



In length the 50 eggs I have measured myself or of which [ have 

 had measurements sent me varied between 1-72" (43-7 mm.) and 

 2-12" (53-9 mm.) in length and between 1-30" (35-0 mm.) and 

 1-46 (37'1 mm.) in width. The average of the 50 eggs is 1-80" 

 (45-7 mm.) by 1-40" (35-5 mm.). 



Oates gives the variation in breadth of the series in the British 

 Museum as being far greater than given above, but I have most 

 carefully measured the series and find them ■ all to come within 

 these limits. 



General habits. — Since Davison wrote his splendid description 

 of this bird's habits there has been practically nothing further of 

 value recorded, and so exhaustive and interesting ai"e these notes, 

 that it is not likely that there will ever be much to add. 

 He writes : 



" The Grey Jungle-fowl occurs but sparingij^ about the 

 " higher portions of the Nilgiris, but is common on the lower 

 " slopes, in the low country about the basis of the hills, and 

 " throughout most parts of the Wynaad. I have found it 

 " most abundant in the jungles between Metapolliem and 

 " Kullar, and between this j^lace and Burliar about half-way 

 " between Kullar and Coonoor, I counted 26 once (while 

 " riding up to Cooncor early one morning) feeding along the 

 " cart road here. 



" Unlike the Red Jungle-fowl, this species is not grega- 

 " rious, and though occasionally one meets with small coveys, 

 " these always consist of onlj' one or two adults, the rest 

 " being more or less immature. As a rnle, they are met with 

 •' singlj^ or in pairs. 



" The crow of the male is very peculiar, and might be 

 " syllabled, Imck-haya-hya-lvuck, ending with a low, double syl- 

 " lable like 'Jcyukun, hijuhvn,' repeated slowly, and very softly, 

 " so that it cannot be heard except when one is very close to the 

 " bird. Only the males crow, and that normally onlj'in themorn- 

 " ings and evenings, though occasionally they crow at intervals 

 " during the day when the weather is cloud3\ The crow is 

 " very easily imitated, and with a little practice the wild 

 " birds may be readily induced to answer. 



