THE BLACK-BACKED KALIJ. 193 



{Polygonum molle) and the yellow Raspberry {Rubus flavus), two 

 shrubs which yield more bird-food in Sikhim than do any other 

 dozen kinds of plants put together. 



" The Black-backed Kalij is too tame and too fond of keeping 

 to the ground to afford much sport. It can use its legs so much 

 better than it can its wings that, unless very hard pressed, it 

 trusts entirely to the former, and they are worthy of its con- 

 fidence, for they can bear it over the ground with surprising 

 rapidity. The cover it affects is usually so dense and so full 

 of creepers, that a dog can scarcely make headway in it, and 

 has but little chance of outrunning it and forcing it to rise. 

 Sometimes six or eight are found in one covey, but usually 

 not more than three or four. 



" A full grown male weighs about 2j^ lbs. The flesh is rather 

 poor eating." 



As supplementary to this I may add that Beavan says that 

 this species is " common about Darjeeling, at all elevations 

 between 2,000 and 7,000 feet, and also occurs abundantly in 

 the interior of Sikhim. I procured feral specimens of this 

 bird on one occasion in a ravine below Pankabari, at the 

 very foot of the hills ; on another in Major Wardroper's planta- 

 tion at Darjeeling (about 6,000 feet), and found them abundant 

 at Rinchingpoong in Sikhim (from 5,000 to 6,000 feet), where, 

 when put up by a dog, they took to trees and were easily shot. 

 They roost on the same bough every night ; and consequently 

 the exact locality is easily found by the number of white 

 droppings which accumulate on the ground below. They were 

 generally met with in pairs or small parties of three and four." 



Colonel Tickell remarks that the only way he ever succeeded 

 in shooting the Black-backed Kalij without dogs to help him 

 " has been by going at early dawn along the paths used by 

 travellers before any one was up or stirring near the station. 

 In such spots, before the daylight has become too decided, 

 or any passenger has broken the stillness of the mountain side, 

 the Hill Pheasants are sure to be met with, picking and scratch- 

 ing about the dung scattered on the road ; but creep as silently 

 and swiftly as you will, peep round the corner with the stealth 

 of a Red Indian, and have your gun full-cocked and almost 

 at the shoulder, yet ten to one this keen-eyed bird sees you first, 

 and you get your shot as he is diving into a thicket, and 

 succeed probably in merely knocking off a few feathers." 



He also tells us that " all three species of Kalij have the same 

 notes. When unmolested, or quietly turning up the leaves and 

 scratching the ground for food, they emit a frequent gentle 

 cluck, a little sharper than that of a domestic hen, and occasion- 

 ally these clucks are rapidly repeated, and end in a louder, shriller 

 screech or chirrup, which constitutes the crow or call of the 

 cock bird. If suddenly flushed, it rises with a loud harsh 

 chuckle or cackle." 



25 



