58 Allen's naturalist's library. 



to the end of May, as then his hackles are in the best 

 condition. 



'' In June the moult begins, and the male gradually drops 

 his hackles and long tail-feathers, the hackles being replaced 

 by short feathers as in the female ; during the rains the male is 

 a poor mean-looking object, not in the least like his hand- 

 some self in the cold weather, and, fully conscious of this fact, 

 he religiously holds his tongue during this period. 



" In September, a second moult takes place ; the short 

 feathers of the neck are again replaced by the hackles, the long 

 tail-feathers reappear, and by October the moult is complete, 

 and our Southern Chanticleer as noisy as ever. 



" The male usually carries his tail low, and when running, he 

 does so with the tail lowered still more, the neck outstretched, 

 and the whole body in a crouching position, as in the 

 Pheasants. 



" I do not know for certain whether the species is poly- 

 gamous or monogamous, but from what I have observed I 

 should think the latter ; for although the male does not, I 

 believe, assist in incubation, yet when the chicks are hatched, 

 he is often to be found in company with his mate and little 

 ones. 



" These birds are, I believe, quite untamable, even when 

 reared from the egg, and though in the latter case they may 

 not be so wild as those captured in maturity, they never take 

 kindly to domestic life, and avail themselves of the first 

 opportunity for escaping. It is needless to say that they can- 

 not easily be induced to breed in captivity. I have known the 

 experiment tried time after time unsuccessfully." 



Nest. — Like that of the Red Jungle-Fowl. The period of 

 incubation appears to vary much in different localities, eggs 

 having been found from October to June. 



Eggs. — Vary much in shape and colour, the extreme types 

 being a long oval with fine shell, and a broad oval conspicuously 



