THE (iAMi: lilRDS OF IXDIA. 189 



ho)-sjiel(/i. Wlien. however, 1 tried to get a series together to prove 

 or disprove this theory, it was ini})ossible to get aii}' but a rare strag- 

 gler away from tlie loot liills where under 1,000 feet they were 

 most plentiful. 



Above in describing their favourite nesting haunts 1 have also 

 described the kind of place in which the birds are most often to be 

 found throughout the year. At times, especially when the bamboo 

 jungles are seeding, they haunt this kind of cover in com pan}' with 

 many other seed-eating birds. Thev also are verv fond of small 

 patches of bushes, scrub and dense secondary growth in the vicinitj- 

 of villages, but they seldom are to be found in these unless there is 

 heavy forest within easy reach. 



During the earl}" mornings and evenings they frecjuent forest 

 roads and jungle paths, the edges of cultivation and the open banks 

 of rivers and streams. Here they Avander aboiit singly, in pairs or 

 in small flocks and family parties, often in compau}- with jimgle- 

 fowl, with whom they consort on cpiite amiable terms at any other 

 but the breeding season. 



As soon as the sun is an hour or two above the horizon the}' 

 gradually make their way into the forest, but continiie to peck and 

 scratch about for food until nearly midda}-, when they fly up into 

 some tree to roost, senerallv selecting a broad limb within a few 



■& 



feet of the oround. Thev remain here iintil the shadows be ffiu to 

 lengthen, and then again descending, leisurely feed their way out 

 once more into the open, ^here they stay until sunset, immediately 

 after which thev retire for the nioht, and are all settled on their 

 perches long before it is dark. 



They are very quiet birds as they move about in the forest, and 

 are much less energetic and quick in their movements than are 

 Jungle-Fowl. AVhen the}" scratch and turn over the leaves in their 

 search for^ grubs and fallen fruit, they do so in a very slow metho- 

 dical way, and one never sees the wild scattering of leaves and 

 misplaced fluster so often indulged in by the Jungle- Fowl of both 

 sexes. So too they do not get stampeded by non-existent foes and 

 rush off" shrieking and cackling, only to find after a few minutes 

 that there was no need to move at all. They go their way c|uietly 

 and sedately, uttering^ as thev move aboiTt a lo\\' Imrr-lmrr-lcurrclii- 

 Inirr as if to let the other members of their family know where they 

 are, fcr the flocks scatter a good deal Avhen in heavy cover, until 

 they come to the edge of the cultivation where they intend to feed. 

 Here there is usually a halt, as each individual satisfies himself or 

 herself there is no danger, and their out they come and commence 

 the serious morning and evening business of getting full. Once 

 out in the open they seem to keep closer together than in the 

 forest, evidently relying to some extent on each other for the neces- 

 sary warning in case of alarm. 



