THE STONE PHEASANTS. 201 



from point to point in just the same way, helping themselves 

 along with their wings. If surprised, they instantly disappear 

 among the crevices in the rocks, and are then very difficult to 

 flush; if in scrub or grass, they always prefer, if possible, to 

 escape by running ; but when pressed by a dog, they rise with a 

 whirring flight and make for tliick cover, where they are in the 

 habit of drying their plumage after heavy rain or dew. Heuglin 

 often noticed a peculiar habit of these birds during the breeding- 

 season, from July to September, when whole flocks are wont to 

 repair to some particular playground, usually a small bare spot 

 sheltered by the bushes. The hens are more numerous than 

 the cocks, and the former withdraw from the scene of action 

 into the neighbouring cover, while the males strut round the 

 open space, challenging and answering the chorus from neigh- 

 bouring parties. Their note may be syllablised as dm-dlu^ 

 dui-dm, diii-dlu^ dui-diu, di, which is repeated at longer or 

 shorter intervals. 



Simultaneously the males commence dancing and showing 

 off, ruffling their neck-feathers, nodding their heads, flirting 

 their tails like a fan, and trailing their wings along the ground, 

 while they circle round the playground with hops and springs. 

 Half-grown young, still partially in the down, were often met 

 with in January. 



The Stone Pheasants generally roost under the shelter of 

 overhanging rocks. Their flesh is said to be white and sweet, 

 and Heuglin reckoned them one of the best of African Game- 

 Birds. 



Mr. F. J. Jackson, Captain Shelley, and Mr. T. E. Buckley, 

 all state that they found this species in pairs, not in flocks ; 

 but perhaps the birds they met with were breeding, which may 

 account for the difference between their observations and those 

 of Heuglin, given above. The preponderance of the females 

 over the males, combined with the curious habit indulged in 

 by the Stone Pheasants, of rej^airing to some particular spot, 

 where the males display their charms and pay court to the 



