GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 23 1 



gradually less so, till it may be said to be quite tame, but as it is often found in places nearly free 

 from underwood, and never attempts to escape observation by concealing itself in the grass or 

 bushes, it is perhaps sooner alarmed and at a greater distance than other Pheasants, and may 

 therefore appear at times a little wild and timid. In spring it often rises a long way in front, and it is 

 difficult to get near it when it again alights, if it does not at once fly too far to follow; but in 

 winter it may often be approached within gunshot on the ground, and when flushed it generally 

 alights on a tree at no great distance, and you may then walk, quite close to it before it again 

 takes wing. 



" In the forest, when alarmed, it generally rises at once without calling or running far on the 

 ground; but on the open glades, or grassy slopes, or any place where it comes only to feed, it will, 

 if not hard pressed, run or walk slowly, in preference to getting up ; and a distant bird, when alarmed 

 by the rising of others, will occasionally begin and continue calling for some time while on the ground. 

 It gets up with a loud fluttering and a rapid succession of shrill whistles, often continued till it alights, 

 when it occassionally commences its ordinary loud and plaintive call, and continues it for some time. 

 In winter, when one or two birds have been flushed, all within hearing soon become alarmed : if they 

 are collected together, they get up in rapid succession ; if distantly scattered, bird after bird slowly 

 rises — the shrill call of each alarming others still farther off till all in the immediate neighbourhood 

 have taken wing. When repeatedly disturbed by the sportsmen or shikaries, they often take a 

 longer flight. 



" In spring, when the snow has melted in every part of the forest, and they have little difficulty 

 in procuring food, they appear careless about being driven from any particular spot, and often 

 fly a long way ; but in winter, when a sufficiency of food is not so easily obtained, they seem more 

 intent on satisfying their hunger, and do not heed so much the appearance of man. The females 

 seem at all limes much tamer than the males. The latter have one peculiarity, not common in birds 

 of this order ; if intent on making a long flight, an old male, after flying a short way, will often cease 

 flapping his wings, and soar along with a trembling, vibratory motion at a considerable height in 

 the air. At such times, particularly if the sun be shining on his brilliant plumage, he appears to great 

 advantage, and certainly looks one of the most magnificent of the Pheasant tribe." 



The call of the Monauls is a loud, plaintive whistle, which is often heard in the forest at 

 daybreak or towards evening, and occasionally at all hours of the day. In severe weather, numbers 

 may be heard calling in different quarters of the wood before they retire to roost. The call has rather 

 a melancholy sound, or it may be that as the shades of a dreary winter's evening begin to close 

 on the snow-covered hills around, the cold and cheerless aspect of nature with which it seems in 

 unison make it appear so. In autumn the Monaul feeds chiefly on a grub or maggot which it finds 

 under decayed leaves ; at other limes it subsists pii roots, leaves, and the young shoots of various 

 shrubs and grasses, or when obtainable, on acorns and other seeds and berries. In winter it often 

 feeds in the wheat and barley fields, but does not touch the grain ; roots and maggots seem to be 

 its only inducement for digging amongst it. At all times and in all seasons it is very assiduous in the 

 operation of digging, and continues at it for hours together. In the higher forests, where large open 

 plots occur quite free from trees or underwood, early in the morning or towards evening these 

 localities may often be seen dotted over with Monauls all busily engaged at their favourite occupation. 

 The Monaul roosts in the larger trees, but in summer, when near or above the limits of the 

 forest, will often sleep on the ground in some steep rocky spot. The female makes her nest under 

 a small overhanging bush or tuft of grass, and lays five eggs of a dull white, speckled with reddish 

 brown ; the chicks are hatched about the end of May. By some persons, according to 

 " Mountaineer," the flesh of the Monaul is thought equal to lliat of the Turkey, while others think 



