HIJIALAYAN PHEASANTS. 183 



Keeping on the left bank of the river, we 

 shot on our way downwards, and would 

 have had some very tolerable sport had we 

 only been able to see, which was but rarely 

 the case. Nevertheless we enjoyed ourselves 

 in spite of the weather, and got a few tahir, 

 and some pheasants for the pot, which, owing 

 to our supplies from Missoorie being behind 

 time, was but meagrely supplied. I never 

 saw more j)heasants in any preserve at home, 

 than I have done in these forests. There 

 are many varieties; amongst which the 

 kalleege, or black pheasant, the cheer, the 

 cocklass, and, in the higher regions, the 

 moonall, are those most frequently met 

 with. 



From the rarity and solitary habits of the 

 Argus pheasant, but few sportsmen who visit 

 the hills ever meet with it ; though of neces- 

 sity, when on their way to the snow, passing 

 through the districts it inhabits. Where its 

 haunts are often visited by the sportsman or 

 the villagers, and if such visits are of fre- 

 quent occmTence and continuous, it becomes 



