THE DAMA 169 



migratory there. Legge says that in his 

 constant search for this bird for five years, 

 he was most unfortunate in not having met 

 with a single specimen. 



The Ensrlish name of the Dama is a mis- 

 nomer and gives a wrong idea of its habits. 



It is not strictly a ground-bird. 

 Field rpj^g connotation of the qualifying 



word is that such a bird should not 

 only seek food but also live on the ground. 

 A true ground-bird would possess greater 

 powers of running or fieetness of foot. The 

 Dama can hardly be said either to )*un or to 

 walk in the manner in which a wagtail does. 

 It does not confine itself solely to the ground. 

 It is fonder of bushes and bouo^hs of trees at a 

 medium and moderate height from the grou- 

 nd and, very often, it mounts higher bran- 

 ches. It is true that the Dama forages on 

 the ground and may be seen hopping along. 

 But it prefers being off the ground except 

 when feedinsj. It does not even build its nest 

 on the crround which all true orround-birds 

 do, but as a true perching bird it sets up 



