GAME-BIRDS — WADERS 1 5 7 



originating from a common ancestor which the ordinary farmyard or game breeds 

 most nearly approximate. 

 Pea-Fowl and The typical pea-fowl (Pavo cristatus) inhabits India and Ceylon 



Monai. i n the wild state, but is rather local. In the Himalaya it ranges to a 

 height of 2000 feet, and in southern India as high as 5000 feet, but in Ceylon it is 

 never found above 3000 feet, being mainly an inhabitant of the low, dry country in 

 the north of the island. In its wild state it is not found farther east than Assam, and 

 it has probably been introduced into Gujarat, Katch, and Rajputana, and certainly 

 into Sind, since in these districts, where it is considered a sacred bird and protected 

 very strictly, it occurs as semi-domesticated in the neighbourhood of the 

 villages. Where it lives in its original wildness, it is generally found in small 

 parties in forests or in bushy, rugged ground not far from water. It feeds on 

 grain, insects, small lizards, and snakes, and makes its presence known by its 

 characteristic scream. The hens lay six or seven eggs in a hole in the ground 

 scantily covered with twigs, leaves, or grass, and the breeding-time lasts from June to 

 September. Magnificent birds are the monals, of the high mountains of southern- 

 central and southern Asia, whose general habits are very similar to those of the true 

 pheasants. Of these, the Himalayan monal, or impeyan pheasant (Lophophorus 

 impeyanus), ranges in the Himalaya from Kashmir to Bhutan up to heights of 

 10,000 feet or more in summer, living just below the upper forest-zone, and some- 

 times rather higher. Its food consists of insects, berries, seeds, leaves, etc., and its 

 cry is a loud plaintive whistle. 

 Pigeons and A very large number of species of the pigeon tribe occur in India 



sand-Grouse. an( j Ceylon, among which the genera Osmotreron and Turtur are 

 the most largely represented. Many of the species have, however, a range 

 extending beyond India and Ceylon, on which account, as well as from limitations 

 of space, the group cannot be noticed in detail on this occasion. Of the sand- 

 grouse, the painted species (Pterocles fasciatus) is peculiar to India, where it is 

 resident; while the black-bellied sand-grouse (P. arenarius) is a cold-weather 

 migrant to India, arriving at the end of September and leaving in March. 



Among the heron tribe, several species chiefly characteristic of 

 Europe and south-western Asia visit India. The common heron, for 

 example, breeds in both India and Ceylon ; while the purple heron is represented 

 by a form which may be regarded as a local race of the European bird. Both the 

 white heron and the little egret likewise breed throughout the Indian area, as well 

 as much farther east. The European little bittern, again, which breeds in the 

 Himalaya as far as Nepal to the east, is spread over the Indian area, China, Japan, 

 New Guinea, and northern Australia. The European representative of the night- 

 herons is a breeding bird in India, Ceylon, and Burma. On the other hand, except 

 in Sind, the flamingo is rare in India and Ceylon, and unknown farther east. 

 The European white stork has been found breeding in Ceylon ; but the rest 

 of the Asiatic storks are principally represented outside the Indian area. The 

 spoonbill and the glossy ibis breed in India, and the true ibises are represented by 

 several species. 



Among the rail tribe, the grey-headed gallinule (Porphyrio 

 poliocephalus) ranges from India and Ceylon to the Caspian, and also 



