GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 5 



sand or dust to rid themselves of dirt and vermin. 

 They are very endurant of cold, three out of the 

 four domestic species coming from hot climates, 

 and yet bearing the English winter well ; but those 

 which inhabit temperate regions are generally 

 very intolerant of heat. Our hill pheasants, for 

 instance, can ill bear the hot weather in the plains. 

 All the species usually nest on the ground and lay 

 several eggs. 



The young of these birds, as everyone knows, 

 can run soon after birth ; they are clothed in soft 

 down marked with brown and buff stripes. They 

 are able to fly in a few days, and in their first 

 feathering they most resemble the old hen, but 

 may be known by their pointed quills. So, if 

 none but cocks showing the full feathering are 

 shot, one is sure of plenty of hens and young cocks 

 to carry on the breed, and thus any number of 

 males may be secured for food or feathers with 

 no deterioration to the stock, but rather to its ad- 

 vantage ; for in these so often polygamous birds a 

 large proportion of males is a distinct di^dvantage 

 for breeding, as one is often sufficient for several 

 females, and a larger number means much do- 

 mestic discord. 



It is a great help to the beginner in ornithology 

 that the general or groups of species in the game- 

 birds are so well defined, as will be seen later on. 

 Some of them are, indeed, recognised by popular 

 names : — thus, we speak of the " peafowl " and 

 "jungle-fowl " for the species of Pavo and Gallus 

 respectively. But under the general names of 

 pheasants, partridges, and quails, several very 

 distinct genera are classed in each case. However, 

 it seems best in a work intended for beginners 



