50 Allen's naturalist s library. 



name imports, a true denizen of the jungle, and most especially 

 of jungle in the vicinity of scattered cultivation, at or near the 

 bases of hills, which keep it comparatively well-watered through- 

 out the year. 



" It is entirely wanting in the dry, level, alluvial plains, and 

 semi-deserts of Upper India, and even in better-watered locali- 

 ties is absent from the more richly cultivated tracts, and only 

 straggles into cultivation which is in the neighbourhood of 

 jungle. . . . Vertically, this species ranges from sea-level 

 to 5,000 feet elevation, but, like many other species, it is 

 generally to be found lower down in the cold season, and 

 is rarely to be met with above 3,000 feet, except during the 

 hot season. * . ." Jerdon says : " The Jungle- Fowl is very 

 partial to bamboo jungle, but is found as well in lofty forests 

 and in dense thickets. When cultivated land is near their 

 haunts, they may, during the harvest-season, and after the 

 grain is cut, be seen, morning and evening, in the fields, often 

 in straggling parties of ten to twenty. Their crow, which they 

 give utterance to, morning and evening, all the year round, but 

 especially at the pairing-season, is quite like that of a Bantam 

 Cock, but shorter and never prolonged as in our domestic 

 cocks. 



" When detached clumps of jungle or small hills occur in 

 a jungly district where these fowls abound, very pretty shooting 

 can be had by driving them by means of dogs and beaters ; 

 and in travelling through a forest country, many will always be 

 found near the roads, to which they resort to pick up grain 

 from the droppings of cattle, &c. Dogs will often put them up, 

 when they at once fly on to the nearest trees. Young birds, if 

 kept for a few days, are very excellent eating, having a consider- 

 able game flavour." 



Colonel Tickell remarks: — "There is no bird more difficult to 

 approach, or even to see, when in the jungle. The cocks may 

 be heard of a morning or evening crowing all round, but the 

 utmost precaution will not, in most cases, e.iuble the sports- 



