182 INDIAN SPOKTING BIRDS 



late as June, are laid on the ground ; they are buff in colour. In 

 spite of their natural shyness, 'the old birds show great boldness 

 when accompanying chicks ; they will try to draw away pursuit 

 by artifice, and if a chick be captured will come within a few 

 yards. 



This species is well distinguished by names ; though in Telugu 

 it shares the name Jitta-hodi with the last, it is called Kul 

 koli in Tamil, while the Gond name is Hutha and the Uriya 

 Kainjer. 



Ceylon Spur-fowl. 



Galloperdix bicalcarata. Haban-kukula, Cingalese. 



It is not only in appearance that the spur-fowls are like 

 jungle-fowl, but in distribution, there being two in India and 

 one in Ceylon, while there is a curious coincidence in colour, 

 the most northern and southern species of the jungle-fowl 

 having red plumage, while in the spur-fowl it is the red species, 

 which alone is found in Northern India, and the present southern- 

 most one, which have the red legs and conspicuous red skin 

 round the eyes. 



As to plumage the cock of this bird is not unlike a richly 

 coloured edition of the hen of the grey jungle-fowl, having the 

 neck and flanks white with black edgings to the feathers, these 

 edgings failing on the breast ; the back shows the characteristic 

 spur-fowl chestnut. The brown plumage of the hen is rendered 

 distinctive by the contrast of the red eye patch and extremities, 

 otherwise she is more like the hen of the painted than of the 

 red species — another coincidence with the jungle-fowl, in which 

 it will be remembered the hen of the Ceylon species is more like 

 the grey than the red jungle-fowl hen. The white spots on 

 the cock's wings also recall the markings of the painted spur- 

 fowl. 



The Ceylon spur-fowl makes itself well known wherever 

 found by its cackling call, the notes being on an ascending scale, 

 and beginning at about 6 o'clock in the morning ; but as it is a 

 decided ventriloquist, very swift-footed, and an adept at taking 

 cover, hearing it is one thing and getting a shot at it another. 



