NATURALIST IN INDIA. 93 



6000 to 8000 feet. It prefers, however, the more southern 

 ranges, and is seldom met with in the remote interior. 



In habits domestic, and (unlike any of its allies) often 

 met with in the vicinity of villages and fields, its favourite 

 haunts are, low underwood and ravines covered with dense 

 jungle. The kalij, except when disturbed, seldom takes to 

 wing, although its flight is strong and powerful. When 

 rising it utters a loud plaintive cry, which is continued until 

 it gains a place of safety ; it is not gregarious, and seldom 

 more than three are seen together. It runs with great 

 rapidity ; during incubation the males are very pugnacious ; 

 an adult male weighs about 3 lbs., the female about 2| lbs. 

 Young birds of the first year seldom exceed 1 J lbs., and their 

 plumage resembles that of the female until the moulting- 

 season. The egg is white, and about the size of the bantam's. 

 A nest may contain from nine to twelve, and even more eggs, 

 which are hatched about the end of May. Grubs, insects, 

 seeds, shoots and leaves of trees, constitute the favourite 

 food of the kahj. 



The white-necked weasel, the lammergeyer, golden and 

 spotted eagles, etc., prey on this species, whose loud and pro- 

 longed cry often betrays its presence to one or other of its 

 enemies. 



Like the domestic fowl, this bird, and most of its con- 

 geners, are fond of basking on sunny banks, and shuffling the 

 earth about them ; on such occasions they fall an easy prey. 



The red-legged partridge, better known in the East by the 

 name of "Chukore," has a wide distribution. It does not 

 differ in any well-marked particular from the Greek partridge* 

 of South-east Europe, and shows how easily " species can be 



* Perdix grceoa; there is a variety in the island of Crete having the throat 

 rufous. 



