NATUKALIST IN INDIA. 89 



where we pitched the tent and commenced our labours. 

 Daily, at cock-crow, each started on his own beat, and returned 

 in the afternoon bringing with him the spoils of the day. 



The most interesting denizens of these wUds are the Various 

 species of pheasants. Foremost of all stands the impeyan, or 

 monal. This splendid bird, once so abundant in the Western 

 Himalayas, is now, comparatively speaking, restricted to certain 

 localities in the wooded slopes of the higher ranges. Whole 

 tracts of forests, once dazzling with the gorgeous forms of these 

 birds, are now without a single specimen ; however, it will be 

 long before it is extii-pated, for its haunts are high up among 

 the craggy rocks where few ordinary sportsmen venture. No 

 words can convey an accurate idea of the brilliancy of this 

 bird's plumage,* and that of several of its congeners — indeed, 

 many of the best-executed drawings fall short on this point. 

 However, those in Mr. Gould's Birds of Asia, and his Centwy 

 may be allowed the first rank. 



The average weight of an adult male monal is nearly 6 

 lbs. ;t that of the female about 5 lbs.; the young of the 

 first year about 3 lbs. The favourite haunts of this species 

 are in the deepest solitude of the forest, or among the bamboo 

 and dense jungle which clothe the sides and bottoms of the 

 valleys. 



It is found along the line of the Himalayas, from 6000 to 

 8000 or 10,000 feet, but is partial to localities. 



The monal is strictly alpine in its haunts, and prefers the 



* Hundreds are sold at Stevens' sale-rooms. They are bought chiefly 

 to adorn ladies' bonnets ! 



+ Jerdon, in his admirable work on the birds of India, published in 1864, 

 gives the weight 4 J lbs. Surely, unless his data were obtained at a different 

 season of the year, there must be, some mistake, as our conclusions were drawn 

 from many adult males weighed on the spot. 



