THE VERMICELLATED PHEASANT. 207 



" This Pheasant is averse to all cultivation, and shuns even 

 the yaks or hill gardens of the Karens, though these may be 

 several miles from the nearest toy or village. It must have 

 thick cover, even while feeding. In the mornings it comes out 

 to feed on the ridges, where the jungle is a trifle less thick than 

 in the valleys. At 9 or 10 o'clock it descends into the valleys, 

 and after drinking retires into some small secondary water- 

 course for its mid-day siesta. At this period of the day seven 

 or eight may be found together if it is not the breeding season. 

 When feeding, they go singly or in pairs. Their food is very 

 varied. Ants, both white and black, are eagerly sought after ; 

 the former are an especial weakness of our bird, and the only 

 food on which it thrives in captivity. During the hot-weather 

 Pheasants eat the fig of the Peepul ravenously ; and I have 

 shot birds with nothing but this food in the stomach. 



" The breeding season begins about the 1st March, and by 

 the end of the month all the hens have commenced laying. It 

 is during this month only that the male makes that curious 

 noise with his wings which seems peculiar to the Kalij group. It 

 may be imitated very fairly by holding a pocket-handkerchief 

 by two opposite corners and extending the arms with a jerk. 

 This noise, made only by the male, is undoubtedly a challenge 

 to other cocks. I have frequently hidden myself near a bird thus 

 engaged, and on two occasions shot cock birds running with 

 great excitement towards the sound. 



" The chickens, as soon as they are hatched, are very strong 

 on their legs, and run with great speed. I was fortunate enough 

 to capture portions of four broods. It is astonishing in what a 

 short time the little birds make themselves invisible. It is 

 difficult to secure more than two out of one batch. It is a case 

 of pouncing on them at once or losing them. The mother is a 

 great coward, running away at the slightest alarm, and thus 

 contrasting very unfavourably with the Jungle Fowl, which 

 keeps running round and round the intruder with great anxiety 

 till her young ones are in safety. 



" The young are very difficult to rear. From some cause or 

 other they become paralysed, lose the use of their legs, languish, 

 and die. 



" This Pheasant is not very shy ; on the contrary, it is rather 

 tame ; but it has the habit of sneaking quietly away, and very 

 few birds will be seen by one who does not know its peculiari- 

 ties. It never takes wing unless suddenly surprised, when it 

 will skim across the valley and alight again as soon as possible. 

 Its only call is a low chuckle, frequently uttered both when 

 alarmed and when going to roost." 



Davison notes : — 



"This Pheasant occurs not uncommonly about Pahpoon, the 

 north-east district of Tenasserim and its neighbourhood, and it 

 extends as far, or nearly as far, south as Tavoy. It does not 



