GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 179 



A third point to bear in mind in the treatment of captive game- 

 birds is their fierce tempers ; the sexes should never be kept 

 mixed during or just before the breeding season, or there will be 

 murder and mutilation among the cocks, though cocks alone 

 can generally be kept together. When on a long journey, such 

 as a voyage to Europe, it is just as well to keep each bird in 

 a separate compartment, in the case of the larger species. 



Feeding is a simple matter in the management of game-birds, 

 a mixture of various sorts of corn and seeds suiting all of them ; 

 the Uttle ones, of course, needing the smallest kinds only. In 

 aviaries, this may be thrown among the litter on the floor, it 

 being understood that this litter is frequently renewed — once a 

 week or so ; it should consist of chaff, or any such convenient 

 substance, with some fine gravel to aid digestion, and some 

 earth or sand for the birds to roll in, which they will do 

 instead of bathing. 



A small water vessel is all that is necessary except in the hot 

 weather, when I have observed that pea-fowl, at any rate, like 

 to stand in water. Care should be taken that the water is kept 

 clean and cool. 



Grain alone is not sufficient food if the birds are to be kept 

 shut up for more than a week or so ; in more prolonged captivity 

 they should be given daily rations of raw vegetable food such as 

 various salad vegetables, and these should be hung up in bunches 

 so that they can be picked at and not dragged about. A frequent 

 allowance of white-ants, or in default of such insects, some chop- 

 ped cooked meat, is also desirable ; chopped raw roots, such as 

 potatoes and onions, and fruit, are very beneficial, especially 

 to such species as Monauls, and should be among the rations 

 provided for a sea-voyage. 



AU food, by the way, given during such a journey should be 

 given in vessels securely fixed up, and none thrown on the floor, 

 which should be a barred wooden grating an inch or two above 

 the real bottom of the cage, so that all dirt wiU faU through and 

 can be scraped out without disturbing the birds. For short 

 journeys, such as a few hours by rail, a cabbage or lettuce tied 

 m the basket will afiord aU the refreshment necessary. It is, 

 of course, important, especially during the hot months, to let as 

 much of- the journey as possible be at night ; and species from 

 the higher levels of the hills should not be brought down at all 

 during the hot weather. 



In fact, it generally amounts to cruelty to keep such birds 

 in the plains except in the cold weather, as many birds of this 

 group are very intolerant of excessive heat ; those from hot cli- 

 mates, on the other hand, bear cold very well as a rule, but all 

 need protection during a winter voyage to Europe, under the 



