368 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



very partial to localities where cultivation 

 and thick cover are found together, and 

 bamboo jungle has particular attractions 

 for them. Notwithstanding the general 

 shyness of Jungle-Fowl, they may fre- 

 quently be met with quite close to villages 

 which are surrounded by jungle, and in 

 such cases it is not always easy to dis- 

 tinguish the wild birds from the village 

 poultry. 



Although Jungle-Fowl may sometimes 

 be seen in large flocks, they are Usually 

 in small parties, one cock being accom- 

 panied by two or three hens. The crow 

 of the cock, which resembles that of the 

 domestic cock, may be heard at all times 

 of the year, and usually at all hours of 

 the day, but more frequently of course in 

 the morning than at any other time. The 

 hen cackles like the domestic hen, both 

 when alarmed and after laying an egg. 



The Red Jungle-Fowl appears to lay from 

 March up to June. There are probably 

 two broods a year. The nest is made on 

 the ground, of dry leaves and grass, and 

 is placed at the foot of a bush or clump 

 of bamboos. The eggs, which vary from 

 five to eleven in number, have a fair 

 amount of gloss and are of a pale yellowish 

 buff colour. They vary in length from 



