512 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



decayed leaves, under which they search for grubs ; and descend 

 lower and lower as winter sets in, and the ground becomes frozen 

 or covered with snow. If the season be severe, and the ground 

 covered to a great depth, they collect in the woods, which face to 

 the south or east, where it soon melts in the more exposed parts, 

 or descend much lower down the hill, where it is not so deep, and 

 thaws sufficiently to allow them to lay bare the earth under the 

 bushes and sheltered places. Many, particularly females and 

 young birds, resort to the neighbourhood of the villages situated 

 up in the woods, and may often be seen in numbers in the fields. 

 Still in the severest weather, when fall after fall has covered the 

 ground to a great depth in the higher forests, many remain there 

 the whole winter; these are almost all males and probably old 

 birds. In spring, all in the lower parts, gradually ascend as the 

 snow disappears. 



" In the autumnal and winter months, numbers are generally 

 collected together in the same quarter of the forest, though often 

 so widely scattered that each bird appears to be alone. Sometimes 

 you may walk for a mile through a wood without seeing one, and 

 suddenly come to some part, where, within the compass of a 

 few hundred yards, upwards of a score will get up in succession ; 

 at another time, or in another forest, they will be found dispersed 

 over every part, one getting up here, another there, two or three 

 further on, and so on for miles. The females keep more together 

 than the males ; they also descend lower down the hills, and 

 earlier and more generally leave the sheltered woods for ex- 

 posed parts or the vicinity of the villages on the approach of 

 winter. Both sexes are often found separately in considerable 

 numbers. On the lower part, or exposed side of the hill, scores of 

 females and young birds may be met with, without a single old 

 male ; while higher up, or on the sheltered side, none but males 

 may be found. In summer they are more separated, but do not keep 

 in individual pairs, several being often found together. It may be 

 questioned whether they do pair or not in places where they are at 

 all numerous ; if they do, it would appear that the union is dissolved 

 as soon as the female begins to sit, for the male seems to pay 

 no attention whatever to her whilst sitting, or to the young brood 



