THE DAMA 171 



at once descends into a coward. It is 

 marvellously cautious in detecting dangers, 

 and the least sign or sound frightens it into 

 concealment. In my country-house, I have 

 many a winter noticed it feeding in bush- 

 covered drains. If approached, it would 

 take a short flight to a stump or a bush 

 where it would sit immovable like 

 a rock and watch my movements. If 

 further intruded on. it would scuttle along 

 under the bushes with great rapidity, but, 

 without going very far, try to take shelter 

 under a dense under-wood. If further 

 pursued, it takes to flight. As in the case 

 of Thamnobia, the Dama also has the 

 brighter colour on the lower body. This 

 arrangement is certainly safer in the case 

 of birds that feed on the ground. When 

 the Dama is on the ground, the colour of 

 its upper body lends itself well to conceal- 

 ment in the gloom of the forest or garden 

 where its silent immobility would deceive 

 the eyes of the keenest scout in His 

 Majesty's army. The bird, too, seems to 



