526 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



several are often put up at no great distance from each other, as 

 if they were members of one lot ; but when more thinly scattered, 

 it is seldom more than two old birds are found together ; and at 

 whatever season, when one is found, its mate may almost to a 

 certainty be found somewhere near. This would lead one to 

 imagine that many pairs do not separate after the business of 

 incubation is over, but keep paired for several successive years. 

 In forests where there is little grass or underwood, they get up 

 as soon as aware of the approach of any one near, or run quickly 

 along the ground to some distance ; but where there is much cover, 

 they lie very close, and will not get up till forced by dogs or 

 beaters. When put up by dogs, they often fly up into a tree close 

 by, which they rarely do when flushed by beaters or the sportsman 

 himself, then flying a long way and generally alighting on the 

 ground. Their flight is rapid in the extreme, and after a few 

 whirs, they sometimes shoot down like lightning. They sometimes 

 utter a few low chuckles before getting up, and rise sometimes 

 with a low screeching chatter and sometimes silently. The males 

 often crow at daybreak, and occasionally at all hours. In the 

 remote forest of the interior, on the report of a gun, all which 

 are within half a mile or so, will often crow after each report. 

 They also often crow after a clap of thunder or any loud and 

 sudden noise ; this peculiarity seems to be confined to those in 

 dark shady woods in the interior, as I never noticed it on the 

 lower hills. 



" The Cocklass feeds principally on leaves and buds ; it also eats 

 roots, grubs, acorns, seeds and berries, and moss and flowers. It 

 will not readily eat grain ; and is more difficult to rear in confine- 

 ment than the Jcwar or Moonall. It roosts in trees generally, 

 but at times on low bushes or on the ground. The female lays 

 seven ego-s ncarlv resembling those of the Moonall in colour : 

 they are hatched about the middle or end of May. She makes 

 her nest under the shelter of an overhanging tuft of grass, or 

 in a corner at the foot of a tree, and sometimes in the hollow of 

 a decayed trunk." 



Pucrasia castanea, Gould, figured Birds of Asia, pt. VI., pi. 

 5, from the highlands adjoining the N. W. termination of the 



