THE COMMON PEA-FOWL. 87 



never-failing resorts. Forests with plenty of brushwood, well- 

 wooded ravines and bamboo brakes, are all favourite haunts ; 

 while they may also be found in a semi-domesticated state, 

 dodging about village pan-fields, gardens and groves. 



" They appear to be pretty regular in their habits, frequent- 

 ing the same feeding-grounds by day, and returning to the 

 same perch at night. Towards dusk they may be seen flying 

 into the solitary banyan, and other wild-fig trees, that here 

 and there rise above the level of the surrounding jungle, and 

 segregated thus, it is not an unusual thing to hear them calling 

 to and answering each other at all hours of the night. 



" They rest in thickets during the heat of the day, and come 

 forth to the fields and open glades to feed in the mornings and 

 evenings. 



" They live for the most part on grain when procurable, but 

 do not object to insects and grubs, and — sorry am I to say it — 

 snakes ! Years ago — I kept no notes at the time, but remember 

 the circumstance well — my cook took a small snake, about 8 

 inches long, from the stomach of one which I had given him 

 to clean." 



Adams tells us that : — 



" At Kallar Kahar, in the Salt Range of the Punjab, there 

 are several shrines where the Pea-Fowl collect from the neighbour- 

 ing jungles to be fed by the fakirs and religious devotees. There 

 at break of day, as the sportsman is clambering over the rough 

 sides of the ravines in quest of Oorial {Ovis vignii), he will 

 often be struck with the scene, as hundreds of male Pea-Fowl, in 

 all their native elegance and beauty, dash down the glens with 

 a rapidity of flight unknown to the denizens of the English farm- 

 yard. Many sportsmen ignore this species, and will not allow 

 it a place in their game-list. It is true that in many localities 

 they might be killed with little trouble ; but among the dense 

 and tangled jungles of the lower Himalayan ranges, it is wild 

 and wary." 



" Pea-Fowl," says Burgess, " abound in the jungles, clothing the 

 slopes of the ghats, and in some wooded districts in the 

 interior. In the Deccan, in the wooded hilly portions of the 

 districts of Jainkhair and Scogao, they were plentiful ; and a 

 remarkably pretty sight it was to see them stalking about near 

 the grain-stacks, or running along the bushy banks of the 

 nalas. They are wary birds, and lead the sportsman a good 

 chase when once they take to the low spurs of the hills, up 

 which they run with incredible swiftness. The best plan to 

 secure them is to wait for their roosting-time, under the trees 

 to which they resort. Thick mango trees appear to be their 

 favourite resting places." 



Mr Vidal sends me the following note : — 

 " In the Ratnagiri District, Pea-Fowl are found here and there 

 sparingly in suitable localities. Near the coasts they affect the 



