232 THE GREY JUNGLE-FOWL. 



Pulneys, Anamalais, Shervaroys, and the like, they occur, 

 and, where not persecuted, in great abundance, from near sea 

 level to at least 5,500 feet elevation. Indeed, individuals 

 may be met with up to fully 7,000 feet, as on the higher slopes 

 of Dodabetta. 



The Grey Jungle-Fowl is a purely Indian species, and does 

 not, as already noticed, even extend to Ceylon, where it is repre- 

 sented by the next species G. lafayettii. 



I MYSELF HAVE seen but little of this Jungle-Fowl, and that 

 little chiefly about the base of Mount Abu, and the Dasuri Pass 

 further east in the Arvalis, and I therefore avail myself of 

 Davison's notes on the species, amongst which he has spent 

 many years of his life. He says : 



"The Grey Jungle-Fowl occurs but sparingly about the higher 

 portions of the Nilgiris, but is common on the lower slopes, 

 in the low country about the bases of the hills, and throughout 

 most parts of the Wynaad. I have found it most abundant 

 in the jungles between Metapolliem and Kullar, and between 

 this place and Burliar about half way between Kullar and 

 Coonoor, I counted sixteen once (while riding up to Coonoor 

 early one morning) feeding along the cart road here. 



" Unlike the Red Jungle-Fowl, this species is not gregarious, 

 and though occasionally one meets with small coveys, these 

 always consist of only one or two adults, the rest being more 

 or less immature. As a rule, they are met with singly or in pairs. 



" The crow of the male is very peculiar, and might be sylla- 

 bled, ' Kuck-kaya-kya-kuckl ending with a low, double 

 syllable, like ' Kyukiin, Kyukunj repeated slowly, and very softly, 

 so that it cannot be heard except when one is very close to the 

 bird. Only the males crow, and that normally only in the 

 mornings and evenings, though occasionally they crow at 

 intervals during the day when the weather is cloudy. The 

 crow is very easily imitated, and with a little practice the wild 

 birds may be readily induced to answer. 



common in the Panch Mahals wherever there are any hills, but is very rare in the 

 low lying jungles. It was rare, but I saw it in several places in the Tumkur 

 district in Mysore," 



Mr. E. James again writes : 



" I have myself seen the bird all along the Satpura Hills and along the Western 

 Ghats from Khandesh to Kanara. Along the Arbyle-Ghat Road, Jungle-Cocks 

 are to be seen picking grain out of horsedung and cowdungjust like Barndoor Fowls, 

 merely running into the dense jungle on each side as soon as any one approaches." 



Darling says : 



' ' I have seen and shot this Jungle-Fowl on all parts of the Nilgiris from the 

 highest summits to the plains about their bases, in Kullar and Metapolliem ; in the 

 Guzle Hutti Pass and all over the Wynaad ; in the Calicut district and Walliar 

 jungles." 



Mr. Mclnroy remarks : 



"After the paddy is cut near Hunsur, (S. W. Mysore) they literally swarm in the 

 fields for some two to three months, feeding upon the fallen grain. The cock is a 

 very wide-awake gentleman, and I have frequently seen him, on detecting danger, 

 make off silently to the jungle, leaving his hens to their fate." 



