124 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



vegetation and fauna of the west, at a distance of about one 

 hundred and thirty miles from the nearest point of the main 

 forest to which they belong. 



Two species of spur-fowl are pretty common on the hills. 

 The one is the common little red bird,* which, but for its 

 size, might easily be mistaken for the red jungle-fowl, being 

 very like a small bantam cock. The other species is, I think, 

 the same as the painted spur-fowl,f an exceedingly handsome 

 bird, with a long double spur on each leg. The latter species 

 is generally found on the edges of the ravines, down which 

 it drops, when flushed, like a stone, and can seldom be found 

 again. The red bird I found chiefly on the little broken hills 

 that surround the plateau, and in the same places as the 

 jungle-fowl ; and very pretty sport it gives with spaniels. 



The common Chikdrd gazelle of the plains inhabits the 

 undulating part of the plateau ; and the little four-horned 

 antelope, already referred to, is not uncommon in the thicker 

 parts. The black antelope is quite unknown, though on 

 the similar plateau of Toran Mai, in the western Satpuras, 

 it is said to be common. Hares are very numerous. The 

 Korkus have a curious way of killing them at night. I dis- 

 covered it by observing a strange will-o'-the-wisp-like light 

 flitting about the edges of the little eminences across the 

 valley below my tent, accompanied by a faint jingle as of 

 bells. It is very simple. One man carries a pole across his 

 shoulders, from the fore end of which is slung an earthen 

 pan full of blazing faggots of the torch-wood tree,;]: arranged 

 so as to throw the light ahead. The pan is made out of one 

 of their ordinary earthen water-vessels, by knocking out the 

 side. It is balanced at the other end by a basket of spare 



* Galloperdix spadiceus. \ G. lumulosus, Jerdoii. 



\ Cor/)fospermii,m goasypium, 



