128 THE MOONAL. 



occasionally commences its ordinary loud and plaintive call and 

 continues it for some time. 



" In winter, when one or two birds have been flushed, all 

 within hearing soon get alarmed ; if they are collected together, 

 they get up in rapid succession ; if distantly scattered, bird after 

 bird slowly gets up, the shrill call of each as it rises alarming 

 others still further off, till all in the immediate neighbourhood 

 have risen. In the chestnut forests, where they often collect 

 in large flocks, and where there is little underwood, and the 

 trees, thinly dispersed and entirely stripped of their leaves, allow of 

 an extensive view through the wood, I have often stood till 

 twenty or thirty have got up and alighted in the surrounding 

 trees and have then walked up to the different trees and fired at 

 those I wished to procure without alarming the rest, only 

 those very close to the one fired at being disturbed at each 

 report. 



" In spring they are more independent of each other's move- 

 ments ; and, though much wilder, are more apt to wait, before 

 rising, till individually disturbed. When they alight in the 

 trees and are again flushed, the second flight is always a long 

 one. When repeatedly disturbed by the sportsman or shikaris, 

 they often take along flight in the first instance. 



" The seasons also have great influence over them in this res- 

 pect, as well as in their degree of tameness or wildness. In 

 spring, when the snow has melted in almost every part of the 

 forest, and they have little difficulty in procuring an abundance 

 of food, they appear careless about being driven from any parti- 

 cular spot, and often fly a long way ; but in winter, when a 

 sufficiency of food is not easily obtained, they cling to particular 

 localities, seem more intent on satisfying their hunger, and do 

 not so much heed the appearance of man. 



" The females appear at all times much tamer than the males. 

 The latter have one peculiarity not common in birds of this 

 order : if intent on making a long flight, an old male, after fly- 

 ing a short way, will often cease flapping his wings, and soar 

 along with a trembling vibratory motion at a considerable height 

 in the air, when, particularly if the sun be shining on his brilliant 

 plumage, he appears to great advantage, and certainly looks one 

 of the most magnificent of the Pheasant tribe. 



" In autumn the Moonal feeds chiefly on a grub or maggot 

 which it finds under the decayed leaves ; at other times 

 on roots, leaves, and young shoots of various shrubs and gras- 

 ses, acorns, and other seeds and berries. In winter it often 

 feeds in the wheat and barley fields, but does not touch the 

 grain ; roots and maggots seem to be its sole inducement for 

 digging amongst it. At all times and in all seasons, it is very 

 assiduous in the operation of digging, and continues at it for 

 hours together. In the higher forests, large open plots occur 

 quite free from trees or underwood, and early in the morning, 



