88 THE COMMON PEA-FOWL. 



steep slopes that overhang the large tidal creeks, if well clad 

 with trees and bushy undergrowth. Going up these rivers in a 

 boat, Pea- Fowl may often be seen and heard about sunset, as they 

 come down to the river banks to feed before roosting. Inland 

 they resort to large temple forests with luxuriant undergrowth, 

 hill-side jungles, and well-wooded ravines. They are also found 

 sparingly in the Sahyadri forest, both on the summit and the 

 western and eastern slopes. 



" In no part of Ratnagiri are Pea- Fowl kept in a state of 

 semi-domesticity as in other parts of India, and they are conse- 

 quently wild and shy wherever found. 



" In the Satara and Poona districts east of the Ghats, Pea- 

 Fowl are found in large Babul (Acacia arabica) thickets, and in 

 hill-side jungles, where the latter exist. In many parts of these 

 districts Pea-Fowl are both plentiful and comparatively tame. 

 In some native states, such as Sangli and Miraj in the Southern 

 Mahratta Country, Pea- Fowl are jealously preserved. 



" In the jungles and forests Pea-Fowl eat various fruits and 

 berries, such as the Wild Fig (Covillia glomerata) and the 

 Korinda, (Carissa carandas). In the neighbourhood of cultivated 

 ground the crop they particularly affect is maize." 



Mr. Sanderson, so well known by his charming work on 

 Elephant-catching and sport in Mysore, writes to me: — "Pea-Fowl 

 are common throughout Mysore in the lighter belt of jungle 

 that intervenes between heavy forests and cultivation, and in 

 detached low ranges of scrub-covered hills in the open country. 

 They are encouraged in places by the owners of cocoanut and 

 other gardens, as it is a common native belief that they are 

 enemies to snakes. They feed in the grain fields bordering on 

 jungles, and do considerable damage when the grain is nearly 

 ripe, and they move considerable distances at different seasons, 

 tempted by ripening crops or jungle fruits. 



" Pea-Fowl usually commence their discordant cries at half 

 past two in the morning, and not unfrequently cry at intervals 

 throughout moonlight nights. They raise a shrill clamour 

 during the day on seeing tigers or other beasts of prey, or at 

 unusual sounds, such as the firing of a gun in the jungles. 



" Pea-Fowl run very fast, but the old cocks, burthened with 

 tails six feet in length, are poor flyers, and I have frequently 

 seen my men run them down during the hot hours of the day 

 by forcing them to take two or three long flights in succession, 

 in places where they could be driven from one detached patch 

 of jungle to another. 



" The old cocks are in full plumage from June to December, 

 and then cast their trains. 



" Pea-Fowl are, perhaps, the most wary of all jungle creatures. 

 In beating for large game, where the sportsmen are posted 

 ahead in trees, their presence may pass undetected by other 

 animals, but rarely by Pea-Fowl. 



