COMIMON HILL-PARTRIDGE 243 



The name Arhoricola (tree-haunter) is appropriate enou^'h if it 

 means a dweller among trees, for all these tree-partridges live in 

 forest, and in forest on hills ; hut they do not live in the trees like 

 tragopans, though they perch sometimes, hut apparently not more 

 than some of the other partridges, such as the painted species or 

 southern francolin. 



The range of the present species is wide, for in addition to 

 the Himalayas it is found in the Naga Hills and in those north of 

 Manipur. It is a bird of the middle hills, not generally going 

 above 9,000 or below 5,000 feet, and its especial haunts are dark 

 forest-clad ravines and gullies. It may, indeed, be found close 

 up to the limits of vegetation, and is then more easily seen, so as 

 to give an idea of abundance, but its real home is lower down ; 

 here, however, it is in its element as an accomplished skulker, 

 and so is rarely seen. Dogs, however, will put it up, and its scent 

 is so strong, says Hume, as to draw off the dogs from that of 

 pheasants. Its flight is low, short, and very swift, and it must be 

 hit by the snappiest of shots or not at all. It is practically omni- 

 vorous, eating both insects and leaves, seeds and berries, and 

 may often be seen feeding near the various hill pheasants ; open 

 land and cultivation it avoids. As might be inferred from the 

 length of the claws, it scratches for food a great deal. 



The note is a soft whistle, either loud or low according to cir- 

 cumstances, only heard in spring, and easily imitated ; indeed, so 

 like is it to the whistle with which the shepherds call their flocks, 

 according to Hume, that these simple hill-men believe that the 

 birds are the abodes of the transmigrated souls of former 

 colleagues, and in some places object to their being shot in 

 consequence. 



Peuras go generally in pairs or singly, though in autumn 

 and winter coveys of half a dozen may collect. They are com- 

 monly only shot casually, according to the rather scanty oppor- 

 tunities they afford ; about half a dozen a day may be thus picked 

 up when after better game. As food they are dry, but go well 

 enough in a stew. The eggs are said to be about half a dozen in 

 number, and white ; this, at any rate, is the usual colour of the 

 egg in this very distinct group, which are all much alike in every 

 way, chiefly differing in details of colour. 



