THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 9 



come at all, they generally arrive about a couple of hours before 

 sunset, just as the shadows begin to lengthen and the coolness of 

 evening becomes apparent. 



Where they have been undisturbed the birds come straight 

 down to the water and take their drink, and a good deal of hust- 

 ling and squabbling takes place, especially when two or more 

 flocks, or packs as they should be called, arrive at the same time. 

 Where, however, the birds have been much shot at, the packs will 

 come down at a great pace, high overhead and often take two or 

 three circles round in the air before they venture down to the 

 water. 



Even when they drink from big rivers these Grouse seem to 

 have certain places which they favour more than others, but it is 

 when thej drink at tanks and other small places of water that the 

 native, and often indeed the European sportsman takes the 

 heaviest toll of them. At such places the shooter hides himself 

 either in a hole in the ground or else behind such cover as may be 

 available ; and, if suitably dressed and sufficientl}^ quiet in his 

 movements, may be certain of obtaining a satisfactor}^ bag. Often 

 in this manner a couple of guns will obtain a very large bag of 

 this and other grouse and Hume records a bag of 64 couple of this 

 species alone made by three guns in a couple of hours. 



The native fowlers and professional snarers also take advantage 

 of this habit of the Sand-Grouse and catch a very great number 

 for the market by means of nets and snares at the drinking places. 

 When nets are used they are placed close to the drinking place 

 athwart the favourite line of flight, the nets are some six feet in 

 height and are kept erect by sticks which are so put up that the 

 flrst impact from a flock of birds knocks them over, and many of 

 the flock are entangled in the meshes are easily caught. When 

 nooses only are used, these are placed in great numbers at the edge 

 of the water, either pegged down singly or attached in rows to one 

 long string, which is pegged down, or weighed down, at either end. 



They keep no regular formation either in flight or when bask- 

 ing and feeding. The first thing in the morning many flocks 

 often collect together and lie in the sun, warming themselves and 

 at this time appear to get on well enough until they break up into 

 their respective flocks and make their way to water ; when, 

 however, they again meet, either at the water- side or on their own 

 feeding ground, they are very quarrelsome and a constant bicker- 

 ing fighting goes on amongst the males, this often taking place 

 between members of the same flock. 



Their flight is, as Hume says, very swift and powerful, and the 

 sound of their wings makes a soft swish, which, when the birds 

 pass very close, rises almost to a whistle. In appearance their 

 action is much like that of a pigeon and they rise and fall in the 



