1 88 THE NEPAL KALIJ. 



the wooded hills surrounding the latter, up to an elevation of 

 nearly 9,000 feet ; and in every forest about Noakote. It is 

 usually seen in pairs or in parties of from three to ten, often 

 feeding on the ground near cultivated patches at the borders 

 of forest. 



" The birds seem very fond of perching on trees, and it is 

 usually in this position that one comes across them in forcing 

 one's way through forest which has a dense undergrowth. On 

 such occasions the Kalij first gives notice of its whereabouts 

 by whirring down with great velocity from its perch, and then 

 running rapidly out of sight to the shelter of some thicket. 

 In the winter the birds roost on trees at the foot of the hills, 

 and the plan for making a bag is to post one's self about sunset 

 under some trees which they are known to frequent, and await 

 their coming. The birds are then soon heard threading their 

 way through the jungle towards their favourite trees, and at 

 once fly up and perch. When once settled for the night in this 

 way, they are not easily alarmed, and I have shot four or five 

 birds in quick succession before the rest of the party would 

 clear out to quieter quarters. Occasionally, too, one can get a 

 shot at the Kalij as they cross a hill path through the forest on 

 their way to or from some stream. 



" Great numbers of the Nepal Kalij are snared and brought 

 into Khatmandu for sale. The birds bear confinement in the 

 valley very well, and I reared several chicks to maturity." 



It may be useful to note that Mr. Hodgson had for two years 

 a perfectly /z/r<? white specimen of this species in confinement. 

 The irides, orbital skin, legs, feet and bill were all normally 

 coloured. The bird was a male, and when it died it was in fine 

 plumage. 



MALES MEASURED. — Length, 23*0 to 26*0 (according to tail) ; ex- 

 panse, 26*0 to 29-5 ; wing, 87 to 9*2 ; tail from vent, 10*9 to 12*3 ; 

 tarsus, 2-8 to 3*05 ; bill from gape, 1*25 to 1*37. Weight, 1 lb. 

 12 ozs. to 2 lbs. 8 ozs. 



Females. — Length, 19-3 to 20*5 ; expanse, 25*0 to 27*0 ; wing, 

 tZ to 8-5 ; tail, 7*3 to 87 ■ tarsus, 2*3 to 2*9 ; bill from gape, 

 Y2 to i -3. Weight, 1 lb. 5 ozs, to 2 lbs. 



The bill is greenish horny, more or less dusky about nostril 

 and base of maxilla ; sometimes the bills are slightly greyer ; 

 irides usually dark brown, sometimes lighter ; orbital skin fine 

 crimson red, and, as in the other species, papillated ; lower eyelid 

 grey, with black spots ; legs and feet pale brownish, or dingy 

 greyish horny ; the toes usually a little darker than the tarsus ; 

 claws brownish horny ; spurs dusky. 



THE Plate seems to call for no special remark, except that 

 in fully adult and full-plumaged males, the tails are consider- 

 ably larger than here depicted. 



