368 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
(though “ Mountaineer ” somewhat quaintly assures us that there 
is nothing of guile in its nature) that, when once on the wing, it 
seems to have a very good notion of where the guns are, and how 
they are to be avoided. I once witnessed the sight that seems to 
have impressed ‘‘ Mountaineer” so, and small wonder,—a cock 
Monal, his peacock-crest erect, sailing across a valley, with all his 
gorgeous plumage shivering and shimmering in the sun with a 
curious vibratory movement. A very living glittering rainbow it 
was,—a sight that almost took one’s breath away. I was with a 
companion who did not shoot, and would rather discourage 
shooting in others. I am happy to say, though, that he could 
play as good a knife-and-fork-game as any of our party when a 
Pheasant was on the table. ‘‘ What on earth is that?” he said. 
‘‘ Why, that is a cock Monal,” said I, somewhat testily, a bird he 
knew I very much wanted to get aspecimen of. ‘ And do you 
mean to say you would be brute enough to shoot that glorious 
thing ?” he asked; and for once I almost doubted whether there 
might not be something in what he said. 
The Kalij and the Koklass I will dismiss with but a few words, 
not because there is not much to be said about them, or that they 
are unimportant to the Simla visitor. Quite the contrary is the 
case. They will form the mainstay of your larder, and give you 
most of your sport. Both birds, if not old roosters and properly 
kept (you can hang them well nigh a week at that time of the 
year), are most excellent eating, every bit as good as an English 
Pheasant in my opinion. And both give excellent sport. ‘The 
two are found in somewhat different ground, as I have before 
stated, but the mode of shooting them is much the same. The 
guns are below, and the dogs and one or two men above. The 
ever welcome short bark, followed by a hurried “ clinking” of the 
frightened bird, is heard above; ‘‘ Ata, Sahib,” ‘‘ Ata, Sahib,” 
rings down through the trees, followed almost instantaneously 
by a rushing thunderbolt to your right or left, or coming straight 
for you out of the trees in your front; then somehow your gun 
goes off, and, if you are on the spot that morning, a crash is 
heard through the tops of the trees below you, and your faithful 
retriever is soon seen proudly wagging his tail with the bird in 
his mouth. You do not very often come across either of these 
birds collected together in more than twos or threes. Sometimes, 
however, you will be fortunate enough to light on a regular 
