68 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



forest on a bare, exposed hill side, narrow wooded ravines, patches of low brushwood 

 and jungle, and anywhere where the ground is sheltered from the sun by trees and 

 bushes. Sometimes one is found in a similar situation in fine weather, probably driven 

 out of its retreat by an Eagle or Falcon ; but these are rare exceptions, and they soon 

 again return to their regular resorts. 



" At this season, except its note of alarm when disturbed, the Jewar is altogether 

 mute, and is never heard of its own accord to utter a note or call of any kind, unlike 

 the rest of our Pheasants, all of which occasionally crow or call at all seasons. When 

 alarmed, it utters a succession of wailing cries not unlike those of a young lamb or kid, 

 like the syllables 'waa, waa, waa,' each syllable uttered slowly and distinctly at first, and 

 more rapidly as the bird is hard pressed or about to take wing. 



"Where not repeatedly disturbed, it is not particularly shy, and seldom takes 

 alarm till a person is in its immediate vicinity, when it creeps slowly through the 

 underwood, or flies up into a tree, in the former case continuing its call until it is again 

 stationary, and in the latter, till it has concealed itself in the branches. If several are 

 together, all begin to call at once, and run off in different directions, some mounting 

 into the trees, others running along the ground. 



"When first put up, they often alight in one of the nearest trees, but if again 

 flushed, the second flight is generally to some distance, and almost always down hill. 

 Their flight is rapid, the whirr peculiar, and, even when the bird is not seen, may be 

 distinguished by the sound from that of any other. 



" Where their haunts are often visited, either by the sportsmen or the villagers, 

 they are more wary ; and if such visits are of regular occurrence, and continued for any 

 length of time, they become so in a very high degree, so much so that it is impossible 

 to conceive of a forest bird more shy or cunning. They then, as soon as aware of the 

 presence of any one in the forest, after calling once or twice, or without doing so at all, 

 fly up into the trees (which, near their haunts, are almost all evergreens of the densest 

 foliage), and conceal themselves so artfully in the tangled leaves and branches that unless 

 one has been seen to fly into a particular tree, and it has been well marked down, it is 

 almost impossible to find any of them. 



" In spring, as the snow begins to melt on the higher parts of the hill, they leave 

 their winter resorts, and gradually separate and spread themselves through the more 

 remote and distant woods, up to the region of birch and white rhododendron, and almost 

 up to the extreme limits of forest. 



" Early in April they begin to pair; and the males are then more generally met 

 with than at any other period ; they seem to wander about a great deal, are almost 

 always found alone, and often call at intervals all day long. When thus calling, the 

 bird is generally perched on the thick branch of a tree, or the trunk of one which has 

 fallen to the ground, or on a large stone. The call is similar to the one they utter when 

 disturbed, but is much louder, and only one single note at a time, a loud energetic 

 'waa,' not unlike the bleating of a lost goat, and may be heard for upwards of a mile. 

 It is uttered at various intervals, sometimes at every five or ten minutes for hours 

 together, and sometimes not more than two or three times during the day, and most 

 probably to invite the females to the spot. 



"When the business of incubation is over, each brood, with the parent birds, keeps 



