Antlers 



printed in the sandy parts of the nullah. These 

 tracks are easily distinguishable from other jungle 

 animals, as may be seen here. Then silence for a 

 time. 



Bang ! bang ! down the line, and one turns to 

 see some chitul stags go off into the jungle. One 

 has not seen whether one is down, but it is probable, 

 as at this season the stags are to be found in small 

 parties together. 



A light but faintly-heard pattering in the grassy 

 patch situated in the nullah bed to the right. 

 Silence ! and then more pattering. Something is 

 on the move, and something very loth to break. 

 We watch, and strive to pierce the grassy recesses. 

 Suddenly right at the ground level a head ap- 

 pears. 



An old peacock — cunningest of all his tribe ! 

 He gazes anxiously all round out of his bright eye 

 and withdraws his head ; thrusts it forward again, 

 makes up his mind and runs quickly out for a few 

 paces. Then stands and stretches out his old neck, 

 and the little beady eye gazes around with a 

 piercing scrutiny. He does not like the noise 

 behind, and he likes less the quiet in front ! 

 Suddenly over his head rockets an old cock jungle 

 fowl, his wicked little red eye agleam, his back 

 and wing-feathers ghnting like burnished gold and 

 copper, and his long metallic green tail-feathers 

 streaming out behind with the pace he is going. 

 This decides our friend the shallyer. The spot is 



25 



