xiv LIST OF PHOTOGRAVURES 



Photogravure 34. NEST AND EGGS OF THE CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL 



Photograph by William Beebe. Facing page 222 



The nest is usually placed on the ground at the foot of a tree, and only the leaves and grass 

 already present are used as lining. The hen sits very closely, and deserts her eggs only when 

 danger is actually upon her. Her colours harmonise perfectly with the hues of the dry vegetation, 

 but the eggs, when exposed, are conspicuous. Five or six is the usual number, and they are as 

 small as the eggs of bantams, and sometimes slightly spotted. 



A native Vedda, one of the aboriginal Cinghalese, was skilful in tracking down the birds and 

 their nests, and found one of my first nests, which the chicks had just left. 



Photogravure 35. CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL . . . . . Facing page 224 



Photograph by William Beebe. 



In the more arid places Junglefowl often suffer from the attacks of ticks, which attach themselves 

 to their comb in large numbers, and although they will sometimes preen one another's plumage, the)' 

 seem never to attempt to rid their companions of these pests. 



The eggs vary from white to a rich cream colour. Usually they are unspotted, but occasionally 

 eggs will be found which are thickly covered with dots and spots of brownish red. 



In trampled places in the thorn-brush, feathers are sometimes found, showing where severe 

 battles have taken place between rival cocks. But this photograph reveals a real tragedy. A cock 

 Junglefowl had been feeding on the insects which it had scratched from a nest of termites, when a 

 civet cat or similar enemy had pounced upon the bird, plucked out many of the larger wing feathers 

 and carried it away. 



Photogravure 36. HAUNTS AND ROOSTING ISLAND OF THE JAVAN 



JUNGLEFOWL . . . . . . . Facingpage 250 



Photograph by William Beebe. 



This bird haunts the semi-arid coastal lands of Java, but, not satisfied with its proximity to the 

 booming surf of the tropical sea, I saw two cocks and a hen walk down to the beach, catching 

 insects as they went, and after some hesitation rise into the air as easily as quail, and fly out to a 

 tiny mangrove islet a hundred yards off-shore. Here they found a safe roost for the night, returning 

 to their feeding-grounds in early morning. 



Photogravure zJ- ROOSTING CLIFF AND HAUNTS OF THE JAVAN 



JUNGLEFOWL . Facingpage 252 



Photograph by William Beebe. ' 



Jagged ridges of weather-worn coral and stony fields covered with a scanty growth of grass ; 

 spiny cacti sprouting everywhere, and an occasional palm or bunch of feathery bamboo — such is the 

 home of the Javan Junglefowl along the coast. In one place I found a number roosting in a 

 limestone cavern beneath the level of the ground. The birds make their way to the more fertile 

 spots near the creeks and search for insects along the rice-fields and crops of ground pea. 



Photogravure 38. HYBRID JAVAN JUNGLEFOWL . . . Facingpage 260 



Photograph by William Beebe. 



The wild Junglefowl do not interbreed with the native poultry, but in captivity the two species 

 will occasionally cross. Some of these hybrids are huge creatures, with enormous pendant combs, 

 and beautiful plumage ; others are small and bantam-like with absurdly short legs. They are great 

 favourites with the Javanese, who keep them on triangle perches or in ingeniously woven quakes or 

 cages. The dominant character of these birds is the voice, which lacks cadence or definiteness, but 

 consists of a scream which must carry for at least a mile. This is the stimulus to much betting, and 

 owners of powerful-lunged birds often make large wagers on the vocal powers of the rivals. 



