262 Lloyd's natural history. 



Eggs. — Usually eight in number; varying in colour from 

 creamy-white to reddish-buff, the shell glossy and finely pitted 

 with minute pores. Average measurements, i*94 by 1*44 inch. 



n. NEPAL KALTJ PHEASANT. GENNiEUS LEUCOMELANUS. 



Fhasianus leiicomelanos, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 6:^t, (1790). 

 Eiiplocamus leucomelanus, Hume and Marshall, Game Birds of 



India, i. p. 185, pi. (1878). 

 Gallophasis leucomelanus, Scully, Str. F. viii. p. 345 (1879). 

 Gennceus leucomelanus, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. 

 p. 300 (1893). 



Adult Male. — Like the male of G. albocristafus, but the crest is 

 black, and the terminal bars to the feathers of the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts are usually narrower. Also rather smaller in 

 size. 



Adult Female. — Like the female of G. albocristatus, but rather 

 darker, especially on the under-parts, which are dark reddish- 

 brown or dark brown. 



Range. — Mountain forests of Nepal, to an elevation of about 

 9,000 feet above sea-level. 



The habits and nidification of this species are, of course, 

 very similar to those of the other Kalij Pheasants. 



Dr. Scully says : " G. leucomelanus is common wherever thick 

 forest is found, from Hitorna in the Nepal Dun to the Valley of 

 Nepal ; in all the wooded hills surrounding the latter, up to 

 an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet ; and in every forest about 

 Noakote. It is usually seen in pairs or in parties of from three 

 to ten, often feeding on the ground near cultivated patches at 

 the borders of forest. 



" The birds seem very fond of perching on trees, and it is 

 usually in this position that one comes across them in forcing 

 one's way through forest which has a dense undergrowth. On 

 such occasions the Kalij first gives notice of its whereabouts by 

 whirring down with great velocity from its perch, and then 



