THE WESTERN TRAGOPAN. 145 



box tree is abundant, and where, under the forest-trees, a 

 luxuriant growth of ' ringaV, or hill bamboo, forms an 

 underwood in some places almost impenetrable. 



11 They keep in companies of from two or three to ten or a 

 dozen, not in compact flocks, but scattered widely over a 

 considerable space of forest, so that many at times get quite 

 separated, and are found alone. 



"In places where seldom disturbed, the whole lot are some- 

 times found within a compass of twenty or thirty yards, while, 

 where often subject to intrusion, they get scattered and keep 

 in ones and twos in different quarters of the forest, but if left 

 undisturbed for a week or two, they will again collect together. 

 They seldom forsake entirely a regular resort, however much 

 disturbed, but get so shy and wary that it is very difficult to 

 find, and almost impossible to shoot them. Here they pass 

 the winter months, seldom wandering away from the particular 

 quarter they have chosen for a resort, which they return to year 

 after year ; and while there located, if not disturbed, never 

 leave it to any distance, though many other parts of the wood 

 are exactly of the same character. 



" If several lots are in the forest, each lot appear to have 

 their own favourite quarter, and never intermingle with the 

 others. 



" The trees furnishing them with a sufficiency of food, 

 though the ground be covered with snow many feet in depth, 

 the severest storms of winter do not, speaking of the species 

 generally, cause them to change their locality. After a severe 

 fall of snow, a few occasionally leave for a time their usual 

 haunts, if in a very bleak quarter, or at any considerable 

 elevation, and are found in places widely differing, as small 

 patches of forest on a bare exposed hill side, narrow wooded 

 ravines, patches of low brushwood and jungle, and anywhere 

 where the ground is sheltered from the sun by trees and bushes. 

 Sometimes one is found in a similar situation in fine weather, 

 probably driven out of its retreat by an Eagle* or Falcon ; but 

 these are rare exceptions, and they soon again return to their 

 regular resorts. 



" At this season, except its note of alarm when disturbed, the 

 Jewar is altogether mute, and is never heard of its own accord 

 to utter a note or call of any kind, unlike the rest of our 

 Pheasants, all of which occasionally crow or call at all seasons. 

 When alarmed, it utters a succession of wailing cries, not unlike 

 those of a young lamb or kid, like the syllables ' waa, waa, waa' 

 each syllable uttered slowly and distinctly at first, and more 

 rapidly as the bird is hard pressed or about to take wing. 



" Where not repeatedly disturbed, it is not particularly 

 shy, and seldom takes alarm till a person is in its immediate 



* The Nepal Hawk- Eagle, Limnaetus nipalemis, is an inveterate foe to both 

 species of Tragopan and to the Moonal. 



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