THE EASTERN OR BURMESE PEA-FOWL. 95 



clustering on parasites and creepers in endless variety, with 

 orchids of every hue and fantastic shape, enliven the lovely 

 avenue. Suddenly we sweep into a rock-girt space, where the 

 grey walls inclose a pool so deep that the ribbed sand and 

 boulders of the bottom melt away from view. Anon the boat 

 emerges into a broader part, where shallows break the stream 

 into many brawling currents, and the trees, retiring farther from 

 us, disclose to view the purple mountains peering through their 

 upper branches. In such spots as these, when the sun begins 

 to draw near the western horizon, and the shades of evening 

 gather over the water and the silent shore, the sportsman may 

 get several snap-shots, before darkness settles on the banks, at 

 Jungle Fowl, Pea-Fowl, Hill Pheasants {Euplocomus), or perhaps 

 a Deer. If there be small islets in the river, covered with high 

 grass or bush, he should search every one, sending a boatman 

 on shore to beat the cover. Pea-Fowl and Jungle Fowl are very 

 fond of emerging from the heavy jungle towards evening if all 

 is quiet, and flying into such islets, where they scratch about 

 in the sand, drink at the margin, and roost for the night, if 

 undisturbed, secure from jungle cats. 



" Karens have the same notion or idea as the Hindustanis 

 entertain of the Tiger and Pea-Fowl affecting the same locality ; 

 and on the Ataran River a painful confirmation of this opinion 

 occurred some twenty years ago. A gentleman was travelling 

 up that stream in a boat to visit some teak forests, and one 

 morning, hearing the cry of a Peacock on the bank, stepped on 

 shore with his gun to shoot the bird. It ran before him, allur- 

 ing him farther into the jungle, till about a couple of hundred 

 yards from the water-side he was seized and killed by a tiger 

 before help could reach him." 



I HAVE not many measurements of this species, but I note 

 that birds, even in full plumage, seem to vary much in size 

 according to age. 



The total length of the finest bird of which I have a record, 

 from the tip of the bill to the end of the train, was 90 inches. 

 The following are the details of all the males we have measured 

 and weighed in the flesh : — 



Length, to end of true tail, 40*0 to 48-0 ; train, projects 

 beyond end of tail from 24-0 to 44-0 ; expanse, 50-5 to 6o*o ; 

 wing, 1675 to 1975 ; tail from vent, 15-5 to 17-5 ; tarsus, 5*5 

 to 6*3 ; bill from gape, 1*95 to 2*5. Weight, 8*5 to iro lbs. 



Legs and feet dark horny brown ; bill dark horny brown ; 

 lower mandible pale near base ; irides dark brown. 



The facial skin is of two colours — smalt blue and chrome 

 yellow. 



The blue runs from a point in front of and below the nostrils, 

 where it is palest, to the gape, and from thence in a curved 



