PEA-FOWL AND JUNGLE-FOWL. 169 



hens, as some flutter up into the trees, whilst others, older 

 and more wary, either scurry off through the bushes, or wing 

 their rapid flight as they betake themselves to a safer locality, 

 that it seems just as if we are in the vicinity of a poultry- 

 yard. One or two of the less crafty ones are rather shame- 

 lessly potted on their perches, whence they fall almost into the 

 jaws of the dogs that are barking at them below, by which 

 diversion their attention has been distracted from us their 

 more dangerous foes, as we approach them under cover of the 

 bushes. The unusual row disturbs from its noonday repose 

 a cheetal (spotted deer), to which our physician administers a 

 dose of leaden pills, but at such a distance as to have little 

 effect. 



Our musical friend the peacock having betrayed his where- 

 abouts by again raising his melodious voice a practice usual 

 with pea-fowl on hearing a shot in their vicinity, though 

 they are otherwise uncommonly knowing the old fellow is 

 soon ejected by the dogs from his retreat among a tangled 

 mass of elephantine creeper, where he has ensconced himself 

 in the vain hope of concealment, and from which he ex- 

 tricates his splendid long train with considerable difficulty 

 and much flapping of wings, thereby giving an easy chance to 

 one of the party. 



Now came a very agreeable and welcome part of the day's 

 proceedings, when we called a halt in a shady nook beside 

 the stream, where it formed itself into a deep swirling pool. 

 From this, had we come provided with a trout-rod, we might 

 easily have added a dish of broiled fish to the cold collation 

 that was being spread before us. Having done ample justice 

 to the comestibles, and beverages cooled in the stream, after 

 the usual pipe we prepared to make a fresh attack on the 

 feathered denizens of the jungle. Although the quantity of 

 ammunition expended was perhaps greater after lunch than 

 before it, the amount of the bag, I fear, was, as it often is 

 under similar circumstances, in the opposite ratio. 



