BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 169 



moving' through the long- grass, and I invariably thought at first 

 that it was some new porcupine or badger, or some animal. The 

 note, too, adds to the deception, it reminded me a little of 

 young ferrets. They run with great rapidity, but rise readily 

 before a dog, and would not be difficult shooting but for the steep- 

 ness of the hill-sides on which they are found, and the nature of 

 the soil — gravel just stuck together by the material that forms 

 the petrified wood so common there. This, covered by grass or 

 dried Bamboo leaves, makes the footing so slippery that any 

 attempt to raise my gun hurriedly generally brought me to my 

 knees. These birds feed a great deal on the young' shoot of a 

 kind of Orchis, which rather resembles a large Roselle flower, and 

 its juicy leaves enable these Pheasants to live for some time far 

 away from water ; but in the middle of the hot- weather they are 

 forced to retire from the Thayetmyo Hills by the long grass being 

 burnt. They return at the beginning* of the rains. They hatch 

 in August." 



Mr. Oates remarks : " As already noticed, this species is com- 

 mon throughout the whole of Pegu east of the Irrawaddy. Its 

 limits to the south'* beyond Moulmein, and to the east beyond the 

 Pounloun range of mountains, are not known with certainty. 

 To the westf of the Irrawaddy it is entirely replaced by Cuvieri. 



" Lineatus is rare or common, just in proportion as the country 

 is level or mountainous. In the plains or undulating portion 

 of Upper Pegu it will be met with in small numbers, if the 

 ravines and nullahs are sufficiently precipitous to suit its taste ; 

 but in these places, at the best, only one or two will be shot in a 

 long morning's work. It is not till we get to the foot of the 

 hills that the Pheasants can be said to become common. Here the 

 nullahs, with their pools of water and rocky beds, are particularly 

 favorable to it. As we mount higher, it increases in numbers to 

 such an extent that it is no difficult matter to knock over half-a- 

 dozen in a morning while marching, and that without leaving 

 the path. 



" This Pheasant is averse to all cultivation, and shuns even the 

 yaks or hill gardens of the Karens, though these may be several 

 miles from the nearest tay or village. It must have thick cover, 

 even while feeding. In the mornings it comes out to feed on the 

 ridges, where the jungle is a trifle less thick than in the valleys. 

 At 9 or 10 o'clock it descends into the valleys, and after drink- 

 ing retires into some small secondary watercourse for its midday 

 siesta. At this period of the day seven or eight may be found 

 together, if it is not the breeding season. When feeding, they 

 go singly or in pairs. Their food is very varied. Ants, both 



* We have observed it at least as far south as Meetamyo in 14° north lati- 

 tude.— A. 0. H. 



t But see what Captain Feilden says. — A. 0. H. 



X 



