146 THE WESTERN TRAGOPAN. 



vicinity, when it creeps slowly through the underwood or flies 

 up into a tree, in the former case continuing its call until it 

 is again stationary, and in the latter, till it has concealed 

 itself in the branches. If several are together, all begin 

 to call at once, and run off in different directions, some 

 mounting into the trees, others running along the ground. 



" When first put up, they often alight in one of the nearest 

 trees ; but if again flushed, the second flight is generally to some 

 distance, and almost always down hill. Their flight is rapid, 

 the whirr peculiar, and, even when the bird is not seen, may be 

 distinguished by the sound from that of any other. 



" Where their haunts are often visited, either by the sportsmen 

 or the villagers, they are more wary ; and if such visits are of 

 regular occurrence, and continued for any length of time, they 

 become so in a very high degree, so much so that it is impossible 

 to conceive a forest bird more shy or cunning. They then, as 

 soon as aware of the presence of any one in the forest, after 

 calling once or twice, or without doing so at all, fly up into 

 the trees (which, near their haunts, are almost all evergreens of 

 the densest foliage), and conceal themselves so artfully in the 

 tangled leaves and branches that, unless one has been seen to 

 fly into a particular tree, and it has been well marked down, it 

 is almost impossible to find any of them. 



" In spring, as the snow begins to melt on the higher parts of 

 the hill, they leave entirely their winter resorts, and gradually 

 separate and spread themselves through the more remote and 

 distant woods, up to the region of birch and white rhododen- 

 dron, and almost up to the extreme limits of forest. 



" Early in April they begin to pair ; and the males are then 

 more generally met with than at any other period ; they seem 

 to wander about a great deal, are almost always found alone, 

 and often call at intervals all day long. When thus calling, the 

 bird is generally perched on the thick branch of a tree, or the 

 trunk of one which has fallen to the ground, or on a large 

 stone. The call is similar to the one they utter when disturbed, 

 but is much louder, and only one single note at a time, a loud 

 energetic ' waal not unlike the bleating of a lost goat, and may 

 be heard for upwards of a mile. It is uttered at various 

 intervals, sometimes at every five or ten minutes for hours to- 

 gether, and sometimes not more than two or three times 

 during the day, and most probably to invite the females to the 

 spot. 



" When the business of incubation is over, each brood, with 

 the parent birds, keep collected together about one spot, and 

 descend towards their winter resorts as the season advances ; 

 but the forests are so densely crowded with long weeds and 

 grass, that they are seldom seen till about November, when 

 it has partially decayed, and admits of a view through the 

 wood. 



