FAUNA AND FLORA, RATBVRI, PETCHABURL 135 



some few Kariangs did temporai-ily quit their homes near by, but a 

 (iovernment official arriving, tied new 5 cent pieces round the necks of 

 all and sundry and so averted disaster. 



Following the game track, we were attracted by the smell of 

 some dead beast, and found, some 10 yards from the path, a black 

 leopard lying flit on its back with its neck or its back apparently 

 broken. The ground at that point was flat and covered with very tall 

 trees, the nearest branches being not less than 80 feet from the ground. 

 It appeared to me that the leopard had been chasing langurs in the 

 branches overhead and, missing its footing, fell from a great height and 

 was killed. Thei'e was no wound on the body apparently, though I did 

 not long pursue investigations on account of the stench, 



Though shut in by mountains on all sides this valley is more 

 open than most, and contains a good deal of secondary growth. 



The Grey Peacock-pheasant {Polypledron thihetanum) was ex- 

 ceptionallj^ common, and the call when heard from a great height 

 above the valley resembles that of a hoarse goat. Near at hand it is 

 " qua-qua-qua," repeated with lessening intervals until the bird appa- 

 rently becomes apoplectic and can only screech. I have been told by 

 trustworthy men that the Peacock-pheasant is the " kaw kaw " bird, 

 and that on a sudden clap of thunder a captive bird was actually seen 

 uttering this sound. On the crash caused by falling trees or on a clap 

 of thunder, this "kaw kaw" is instantly heard, together with the 

 barking of any langurs within hearing, and I have only heard this 

 "kaw kaw" in jungle inhabited by the Peacock-pheasant. In the 

 higher and darker portions of this valley I first saw the Pittas, and 

 also an Orange-headed Ground-Thrush, snared by the feet. Wood 

 Partridges also were common and were snared by the coolies, who 

 imitate the call with a reed. 



At this point I turned South, ascended to about 600 metres and 

 dropped down into the head waters of the Pran river, and following 

 down this, arrived at a Karang settlement of four houses. Here I 

 obtained the Bronze-winged Dove (Chalcophaps indica) which is by no 

 means common in Petchaburi though generally distributed, and I have 

 only met them singly, never in small flocks as, according to Oates, they 

 are found in Burmah. 



I obtained also the White-breasted Water-hen, The only mammal 

 shot was the big black squirrel [Raiufa melanopepla) , much more 



J- 



