BLACK-BACKED KALEEGE 33 



all the while ; his vespers an invocation against the dangers of the night. He then 

 plucked idly at a strand of swaying moss near him, re-arranged a wing feather and 

 settled down for the night, with a last, low chuckle — one among a hundred shapeless 

 bunches of moss. I dimly sighted his scarlet face along the sights of my gun barrel, but 

 would pull trigger neither for science nor dinner. When the light had grown so dim 

 that he merged with the moss fantasies about him, I crept backward, slipped down the 

 moss-deadened surface of the great rock, painfully stretched my stiffened limbs, and made 

 my way silently toward camp. 



A week before I was watching blood partridges feeding amid the snow, with no hint 

 of spring in the air ; a few days later the mating call of the Satyra Tragopan had come 

 to me amid a glory of rhododendron blossoms ; here a jungle home had already been 

 established, and as I walked toward the glow of the camp-fire, and glanced backward at 

 the dark, tangled mass of jungle, I knew that I shared a secret with two of its lesser folk, 

 one sitting close upon her treasures, deep hidden beneath ferns and foliage ; the other 

 overhead, helpless to ward off any serious danger, but drawn by love of mate to perch 

 close by, where he might at least watch and perhaps warn of impending harm. 



Thus passed an unforgettable day in the haunts of the Black-backed Kaleege. 



' GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 



The Black-backed Kaleege has probably the smallest range of any of its group. 

 It was formerly not uncommon in all suitable localities in Native and British Sikhim, 

 and in western Bhutan. Exactly how far it extends into the latter country is uncertain, 

 but at all events it does not pass the Monas River. In the south it is found, at least in 

 the winter, fairly in the Terai, and from here northward to mid-Native Sikhim, and up 

 to six and eight thousand feet elevation. 



I was unable to find any trace of this species in extreme eastern Nepal, although 

 formerly it has been killed on the slopes of Mount Tonglo, on the Singhaleela Range 

 dividing Nepal from Sikhim. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT 



The shadows of dense forest growth are the favourite haunts of the Black-backed 

 Kaleege, and the increased melanism of its plumage, in both male and female, well reflects 

 its preference for humid, mossy jungles. In ravines, on broad, steep slopes, or on flat 

 valley terraces it may be found, provided always there is dense cover. The foliage of 

 tea bushes is said to suit the bird, so that this sort of change from the primeval forest 

 does not seem to exterminate or drive it away at once, as is the case with almost all 

 other pheasants. 



It thrives as near sea-level as the base of the hills will permit, and is found breeding 

 in cool oak forests at seven or even eight thousand feet elevation. There is but slight 

 altitudinal migration, the birds at the higher elevations being forced downward by winter 

 storms, but those living lower down appearing to be resident throughout the year. 



The birds seldom leave the cover of their favourite forest undergrowth, except 

 occasionally in the morning and evening, when they come into the open or upon a road 

 to feed. One author speaks of this kaleege as at no time shy, but morning and evening 



VOL. II F 



