58 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



Lineated excels in this respect. In regard to captive birds I have found that it is 

 wholly a matter of individuality. Some males will not tolerate a female of their 

 own kind at any time of year, while others show but little objection to the 

 presence of other cocks even at the breeding season. No one seems to have wit- 

 nessed a battle between wild birds, but sorely wounded specimens have been found 

 under circumstances which left no doubt of the raison d'itre. As the result of 

 widespread inquiries among sportsmen I could only elicit the information that the 

 fighting took place chiefly in March and early April, and in morning and late 

 afternoon. In addition to the whirring of the wings, Major Nisbett tells me that 

 the birds make a clapping noise by striking the backs of the wings together. 

 This performance, so characteristic of fowls and pigeons, I have never heard from 

 any kaleege, and it certainly must be but rarely produced. 



There can \& little doubt that the Lineated is normally monogamous. The 

 frequent association of the birds in isolated pairs is strong circumstantial evidence, 

 and the final proof is the not infrequent record of both parents seen with a single 

 brood. On the other hand, if females are numerous, a cock is not unwilling to 

 consort with two or three. 



I did not find the nest of this kaleege, and my information is derived from 

 the data of Majors Nisbett, Harington and other excellent observers. Nests have 

 been found throughout the entire extent of elevation from sea-level up to over 

 two thousand feet. The location is typically phasianine — on the ground in the forest. 

 It may be in a clump of dense bamboo or lower undergrowth, close beside a dead, fallen 

 tree or at the base of a live one. The slight hollow may be a natural one, in which 

 case the natural forest debris of dead leaves, grass or moss is left and gradually felted 

 down into a dense lining by the weight of the bird's body, or it may be scratched 

 out by the hen bird, when the eggs are deposited on the earth itself. Six to eight 

 are the more usual numbers. In the Petchaburi River country, south-west of Bangkok, 

 Siam, Gairdner found a nest of eight eggs on April 3. Judging by the largest 

 number of young seen together, five seems to be the largest brood reared to 

 maturity, while two or three is the usual brood. The eggs are regular ovals, some- 

 times quite broad, and with considerable gloss. They vary from rich reddish-bufl" 

 to buffy cream, and the pores are always lighter and often pure white. They measure 

 from 44 to 50 mm. in length, and from 35 to 38 in breadth ; the average being 47 

 by 36 mm. 



The period of incubation, judging by captive birds, is twenty-five days. The 

 chicks are strong and run at once. Oates says that he was " fortunate enough to 

 capture portions of four broods. It is astonishing in what a short time the little 

 birds make themselves invisible. It is difficult to secure more than two out of one 

 batch. It is a case of pouncing on them at once or losing them. The mother is 

 a great coward, running away at the slightest alarm, and thus contrasting very 

 unfavourably with the jungle fowl, which keeps running round and round the intruder 

 with great anxiety till her young ones are in safety." 



This latter statement, I think, is based on an individual performance, as my 

 experience with closely related species of kaleege seems to indicate that the hens 

 arc quite as brave and as good mothers as those of any of the family. The young 



