238 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



probably renders them immune to the 9.ttack of many wild creatures who fear to 

 approach so closely to civilization, and also tends to make us more familiar with the 

 pugnacity which is so very general a character of birds of this group. To the north 

 at least, in Kanara, their enemies are numerous enough, including leopards, cats of 

 several species and hawk-eagles. Pythons must prove a danger at times, and mon- 

 gooses may be one of the most dreaded enemies. In Kanara the crested hawk-eagle 

 kills large numbers. 



Feeding in the same thickets or jungle with Grey Junglefowl, one often finds 

 spurfowl, bustard-quail, and other small gallinaceous birds, none of which appear to be 

 in any way actual competitors. On the other hand, we find, as among so many 

 pheasants, a quite close association between Junglefowl and various species of babblers, 

 which at times are found feeding and actually mingling with a family of half-grown 

 Grey Junglefowl. The bond in this, as in all similar cases, is facility in obtaining food, 

 the scratching of the fowls sending many insects flying and hopping, enabling the lesser 

 birds to seize them before they can escape. In return, the babblers all unconsciously 

 render full payment, by keeping a keen look-out for danger from their more elevated 

 perches, and often spoil a long, careful stalk. 



This Junglefowl needs little help, however, in the matter of detecting danger, for 

 its eyes and ears are of the keenest, and it will even discover one when perched 

 motionless in a tree. In such a position I have found it possible to watch many 

 species of pheasants without attracting their attention or even arousing their suspicions, 

 but the keen, suspicious nature of the Grey Junglefowl has always been more than 

 equal to any ruse of mine. 



I have myself noticed, and we find the fact recorded by several writers, that the 

 cock is much more shy than his mate. This is in line with my observations upon other 

 pheasants, where the more conspicuous the difference in colour between the sexes, the 

 more pronounced is the amount of wariness and boldness respectively, displayed in the 

 face of approaching possible enemies. 



Where they have never been disturbed they are not especially wary, and will even 

 take their time in leaving some attractive bit of food. Even in such a case, however, 

 a good gun-shot distance marks the deadline at which they disappear into the nearest 

 cover. When they have been disturbed or shot at for a few weeks, they become 

 exceedingly shy and wary, and it requires the best woodcraft to catch even the most 

 fleeting glimpse of them. 



When not feeding they do not usually wander very far from cover, and a fraction of 

 a second suffices for them to dash out of sight. Unless actually pursued, they do not 

 go very far away. If the observer passes on and pretends to leave the spot, slipping 

 behind a tree-trunk at the last moment, and waiting quietly, the birds will soon reappear 

 close to the place where they vanished. If the danger seems real, and they think that 

 they are being sought, they will continue to thread their way silently, deep into the 

 heart of the jungle, often, after they have gone some distance, flying up and concealing 

 themselves in the dense foliage of a tree. 



