106 THE GREY PEACOCK-PHEASANT. 



So far as we know, it never, in Tenasserim, wanders out of the 

 forests into the fields or other opener spaces to feed, as so many 

 other Pheasants and Jungle Fowls do. 



Our Tenasserim specimens proved to have fed upon ants 

 and other insects, and on hard seeds. 



As far as I can judge, the Tenasserim, Cachar, and Baxa 

 Duar birds all belong to the same species, but it is necessary to 

 note that Mr. Gray considered that there were three recogniz- 

 able forms, distinguishable primarily by the shape, size, and 

 colour of the ocelli or eye spots on the tail, back, and wings, 

 I can at present discover no differences of this kind in my 

 rather large series, that are not manifestly individual variations, 

 but it is not impossible that the Assamese, Upper Burmese, and 

 Siamese specimens may prove to differ somewhat. 



I know so little of this bird that I have asked friends who 

 know more for some little information in regard to it, and writ- 

 ing from North-east Cachar, Mr. Inglis remarks : — 



" Although anything but rare here, this bird is but seldom 

 seen, owing to its shy and retiring habits. It affects thick 

 jungle with an open bottom, and it is especially fond of hilly 

 lands where bamboos and young trees predominate. 



" About the beginning of the year, the male begins to call 

 in the early morning and late in the afternoon ; perched on 

 the bough of a tree, or on the top of a stump, about eight or ten 

 feet from the ground, he emits his loud call-note about every 

 half minute. This call is often kept up for an hour or two at 

 a time, and can be heard on a quiet morning a very long way 

 off. Then is the time to stalk him, but it requires a large 

 amount of patience and perseverance to do it successfully, as 

 you have only the sound to guide you, and after approaching 

 within about one hundred yards of your game, it is unsafe to 

 proceed except during the calls ; thus you can only advance 

 a few yards per minute. 



" The call is very deceiving. I have often imagined that I 

 was within shot of the bird, when it was really still a long 

 way off. 



" When you get up to the bird, and are sharp sighted enough 

 to see him before he sees you, the only plan is to take a regu- 

 lar pot shot. Your chances are few indeed if you wait hoping 

 to take him on the wing, as he has a detestable habit of drop- 

 ping to the ground like a stone, and relying for escape on his 

 heels. 



" I have never shot more than two in a morning, and even 

 then I thought myself in luck. To obtain a shot at all, entails 

 rather hard work, and from the slow manner in which you ad- 

 vance you generally become only too well acquainted with all the 

 leeches and mosquitos in the neighbourhood. 



" I have sometimes shot this Pheasant, as well as the Black- 

 breasted Kalij, Red-legged Wood Partridge, and Common Jungle 



