NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 723 



in a forest glade opposite Gurijan, right bank R. Dibru ; Rungagora, 

 26-1-02, c5~ ; Laluk, Bodutti, North Lakhimpur road, 11-2-10*; Deioo- 

 Silomban forest track "putti " near the former place, 12-2-10.* 



372. Pam cristatus cristatus Linn, [1324]. — Common Peafowl. 

 Recorded by Blanford as inhabiting the whole Assam valley to Sadiya. 



In Mangaldai and above Gauhati in Lower Assam apparently ydt occurs 

 m fair numbers. Its present status in Upper Assam is very obscure. No 

 reliable records even at second hand. In all probability almost extinct. 

 Mr. J. Lindsay Alexander recollects a pair occupying the precincts of 

 Bordeobam many years ago. This Peafowl is of course well known to the 

 Assamese by their name of " Moir." Should it still exist in Lakhimpur the vast 

 expanses of grass land interspersed with Simal near the Bramapootra and 

 on the Majuli in Sibsagar should be its most likely remaining strong-hold. 



373. Pohjplectrum chinquis (MiiUer) [1327].— The Grey Peacock-Pheasant. 

 Extends along the base of the hills on both sides of the valley though 



only occupies the level land, a very short distance from the hills, where the 

 dense vegetation coupled with the broken ground, afford it all the desired 

 protection. It does not however reach beyond the foot hills nor over the 

 watershed on the hills on the north frontier. Reported at Margerita as 

 extending into the plains on this south side as far as Hookunpukri. In 

 North Lakhimpur occurs as far out as Laluk. Its call may be described 

 by the syllable " hu " rapidly repeated in a loud tone about seven times. 

 They are more frequently heard than seen as it requires infinite patience 

 and toil to get anywhere near them in their almost impenetrable haunts. 



374. Gallusgallus (L.) [1328].— The Red Jungle-fowl. 



Gallus ferrugineus, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 75. 

 Plentiful throughout the whole district. In North Lakhimpur its 

 numbers apparently vary with the years. A dry period at the time of 

 nesting seems favourable to an increase in their numbers, specimens 

 secured at Rungagora, March ; Dejoo, May, July, October* , November* 

 and December (Young birds secured in July) ; Gogaldhubie, December ; 

 Seaguli, November ; ■ Dejoo, 15-5-07*, female with chicks in forest ; 

 Komolabari to North Lakhimpur, 19-9-11, hens cackling along this road 

 in the adjacent forest. 



375. Gennceus horsfieldi (Gray) [1339].— The Black-breasted Kalij Pheasant. 

 Throughout the whole plains in forest and extends over the watershed 



in the hills on the North Frontier, Margherita, Rungagora, Dejoo, 

 Beni, Abor-Miri hills, Panchnoi, Daphla hills low elevations, c? : Iris light 

 brown ; orbital skin bright crimson ; bill greenish-horny ; tarsus slaty grey 

 or bluish-slaty. 



376. Bamhusicola fytchii Anders. [1352] ,— The Western Bamboo-Partridge. 

 Occurs above Margherita in the north-east corner of the valley. 



377. Excalfactoria chinensis (L.) [1354]. — The Blue-breasted Quail. 

 Dejoo, North Lakhimirar, 11-12-07, $ ; 19-4-10*, flushed from low land, 



August 1910 in heavy grass on roadside; 14-9-10, c? *; Silonibari, 18-7-11, 

 d $*; 6-9-11*, on roadsides ; 12-9-11*, adults with two chicks. Some- 

 what overlooked. Resident as a breeding species, sparingly distributed ; 

 the above records are from gardens at the foot of the hills. 



378. Coturnix coromandelicus (Gm.) [1356]. — The Black-breasted Quail. 

 No specimens secured but a large Quail seen on the following occasions 



could only have been this species if not Coturnix coturnix, L : — 



Dejoo, North Lakhimpur, 13-2-08*, two pairs; 17-4-08*; 2-3-10*. single. 



