514 BIRDS OF INDIA, 



slowly gets up ; the shrill call of each as it rises alarming others 

 still further off, till all in the immediate neighbourhood have 

 risen. In the chesnut forests where they are often collected in 

 numerous bodies, where there is little underwood, and the trees, 

 thinly dispersed and entirely stripped of their leaves, allow of 

 an extensive view through the wood, I have often stood till twenty 

 or thirty have got up and alighted on the surrounding trees, then 

 walked up to the different trees, and fired at those I wished to 

 procure, without alarming them, only those close being disturbed 

 at each report. In spring they are more independent of each 

 other's movements, and though much wilder, are more apt to wait 

 till individually disturbed. When they alight in the trees, and are 

 again flushed, the second flight is always a longer one. When re- 

 peatedly disturbed by the sportsmen or shikaries, they often take a 

 long flight in the first instance. The seasons also have great influence 

 over them in this respect, as well as in their degree of tameness or 

 wildness. In spring, when the snow has melted in every part of 

 the forest, and they have little difficulty in procuring an abun- 

 dance of food, they appear careless about being driven from any 

 particular spot, and often fly a long way ; but in winter, when a 

 sufficiency of food is not easily obtained, they seem more intent 

 on satisfying their hunger, and do not so much heed the' appear- 

 ance of man. The females appear at all times much tamer than 

 the males. The latter have one peculiarity, not common in birds 

 of this order : if intent on making a long flight, an old male 

 after flying a short way, will often cease flapping his wings, 

 and soar along with a trembling vibratory motion at a considerable 

 height in the air", when, particularly if the sun be shining on his 

 brilliant plumage, he appears to great advantage, and certainly 

 looks one of the most magnificent of the Pheasant tribe. 



" In autumn, the Monaul feeds chiefly on a grub or maggot which 

 it finds under the decayed leaves ; at other times on roots, leaves, 

 and young shoots of various shrubs and grasses, acorns and other 

 seeds and berries. In winter, it often feeds in the wheat and barley 

 fields, but does not touch the grain ; roots and maggots seem to be 

 its sole inducement for digging amongst it. At all times and in all 

 seasons, it is very assiduous in the operation of digging, and con- 



