76 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



truly wonderful agility in creeping and climbing 

 about among the thickest jungle, that they trust as 

 a means of escape. They may, however, occasionally 

 be seen in the late evening or early morning, 

 sauntering in leisurely and meditative fashion over 

 an open piece of grass, but in these cases they are 

 always ready for a precipitate retreat to the nearest 

 cover on the slightest alarm, usually running to it 

 rapidly, and only attempting to fly in the presence 

 of very imminent danger. When on the wing 

 they alternately execute a series of laboured 

 flappings and short sails on widely- extended, short, 

 rounded pinions, sinking rapidly as they go, and 

 seeming to be hardly able to drag their great tails 

 along after them. They are, however, very orna- 

 mental objects during their progress when the sun- 

 light strikes on the rich russet and shining black 

 of their plumage. Only very rarely is one to be 

 seen on the wing unless under the influence of 

 sudden alarm, but I have seen one come flying low 

 across an open to light on a paling and pace along 

 it deliberately for some distance before descending 

 to the grass. 



Crow-pheasants begin to cry shortly before dawn, 

 and are very noisy at a time when the crows are 

 just beginning to talk, and before the spotted owlets, 

 Athene brama, have begun their morning fits of 

 chattering. During the greater part of the day 

 they are dumb, but in the gloaming they once more 



