BLACK-BREASTED KALEEGE 45 



like that of most of its genus, is restricted, the individuals having regular habits, and 

 following much the same route to water and feeding-grounds every day. 



During my brief stay I could detect no signs of seasonal migration, and many 

 observers reported to me that there is none. The birds are so omnivorous that they 

 are not affected by the local ripening of any certain fruit or berry, and seem to pursue 

 the even tenor of their life from season to season, merely retiring at the breeding season, 

 for the purpose of nesting, to deeper, more isolated portions of the jungle. 



In Upper Burma I found the Black-breasted Kaleege in bamboo jungle, near the 

 bottoms of rather steep valleys, and along the trails which wound about the slopes, 

 never over a thousand feet elevation. In Cachar this species is said to favour low 

 forests near rivers, while occasionally they venture into rice clearings. In Sylhet they 

 live on hillocks, overgrown with cane, bamboo and tree jungle, isolated by small 

 streams, and here in the thick underbrush the birds spend the day. Wherever reported 

 they seem to delight in coming into roads and trails morning and afternoon to scratch 

 and feed, keeping keenly on the lookout for danger. 



Finding that the Black-backed Kaleege were abundant near Wau-hsaung I 

 remained there some time studying them, and found their habits to differ in no way 

 from those more in the centre of distribution, to the westward, in Assam. This region 

 was only a day's march east of the Irrawaddy, across from Myitkyina, the terminal 

 of the railroad in Upper Burma, and about seven hundred and fifty miles north of 

 Rangoon. 



I have already recounted meeting the trio of kaleege, one of which I shot. I had 

 had abundant opportunity to observe the two remaining kaleege pheasants, and noted 

 that one was dark, and, like the one I secured, typical horsfieldi. The third was 

 decidedly light, showing distinct white vermiculations on the upper parts and along 

 the central tail feathers. When at last I secured it, I found that it corresponded most 

 closely to what has been called obscurus. All were young males, just completing their 

 moult into fully adult plumage. 



These birds proved to be fairly numerous and not difficult to observe. But one 

 factor made the work exciting — the buffaloes. A half-dozen gigantic, black mothers 

 roamed about the woods, each having in tow a callow, whitish calf. Huge as they were, 

 these creatures made but little noise when walking slowly over the mud, and more than 

 once I had hastily to take to trees. Later in the same day, when I shot my first 

 kaleege, I was crouched close to where a bird was scratching loudly. I had signalled 

 to my companion to circle around ahead of me to force the pheasant into view. 

 Hearing no response I crept back to the lane, and saw him perched some ten feet from 

 the ground, while an irate water buffalo parent tore up sod and snorted angrily below. 

 On the other hand, the presence of so many of these creatures made it an easier matter 

 stalking the pheasants, the birds being accustomed to their movement through the 

 underbrush. 



Several tall trees, covered with ripened fruit, stood near the river-bank, and all day 

 were filled with birds, a constant rain of berries and pits falling through the leaves. 

 In a few days I counted forty species of birds feeding on this fruit, and early one 

 morning, when the fog from the mountains was too thick to see through, I heard, as 

 I walked beneath, the unmistakable note of kaleege. Two birds — male and female — 



