CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL 223 



one in the summit of a decayed stump, seven feet from the ground. Even more 

 surprising are several nests recorded by Parker in the tops of trees, and in deserted 

 squirrel nests. One was in a well-built nest in a sapling, at thirty feet elevation, 

 doubtless the deserted home of a crow or hawk, which had been appropriated by the 

 jungle hen. How the young chicks which emerged from the three eggs reached the 

 ground in safety is impossible to conceive. There is hardly any doubt but that their 

 little necks were broken ; a tragic penalty imposed by the foolishness of the mother 

 in choosing such a site. The dry leaves with which the more usual ground sites 

 are carpeted form a splendid background for the protection of the sitting hen, the 

 colours of whose plumage harmonize perfectly with the various browns and russets. 

 She sits very closely and deserts her eggs only when danger is quite upon her. 

 There is no attempt at actual nest-building, and it is seldom that any lining, other than 

 that already present, is added. The hollow in which the eggs rest is sometimes a 

 natural one, sometimes scratched out by the bird, in which case it bears traces of 

 the excavation, and is usually devoid of any lining, the eggs resting upon the bare 

 earth or sand. 



The number of eggs varies from two to eight. There seems to be no definite 

 variation as to number in nests of low- or of up-country birds, although there seems 

 to be a slight percentage of increase as we ascend. Four seems to be the most 

 usual number. I have found five in one nest, all with a slight peculiarity of pig- 

 mentation which confirmed their being laid by a single bird. In the nilloo season on 

 Horton Plains eight to ten have been found in one nest, but two hens unquestion- 

 ably united in such cases. We can readily imagine that the unusual altitude and 

 general environment, as well as the change in food and the close association of such 

 large numbers of Junglefowl, would doubtless affect, at least to a slight extent, the 

 regularity of the birds' habits. The suggestion that the fat condition of the birds 

 at this period may have conduced to an increased fertility is extremely improbable, 

 as we know that excess of fat in domestic birds often brings about a cessation of 

 laying altogether. 



The eggs themselves vary widely. They are smooth and glossy ovals, and may 

 be either of a uniformly unspotted white, or buff, or rich cafd au lait colour. Or 

 these ground colours may be present in eggs uniformly spotted with brownish red 

 or burnt umber. Usually this marking is absent or very sparse at the" small end, 

 while the rest of the shell shows an even, minute speckling, or this reddish pigment 

 may increase toward the obtuse end until it is all but confluent at that point. The 

 eggs vary from 33 to 36 mm. in breadth, and from 45 to 48 mm. in length, averaging 

 35 by 47 mm. 



Two or three seems to be the usual number of young hatched, or at least 

 brought to maturity. Seven is the largest brood recorded as following one hen. 

 The wings of the chicks develop very rapidly, but for at least two weeks they are 

 dependent altogether on their marvellous powers of concealment. When alarmed, 

 the hen utters a loud, sharp clock ! and makes her way slowly away from the source of 

 danger. I have never seen her, nor have I any record of her pretending to be 

 injured, but the rapidity of her exit from the scene of concealment of her brood is 

 adapted to the exigency of the danger. She may half fly, half run if a dog fly at 



