THE GREY JUNGLE-FOWL. 237 



" Both sexes are very wary indeed, but the male is especially so. 

 The males are mostly solitary (I speak of the habits in the hot 

 weather and rains only), while the females keep in small groups 

 of from 3 to 6. 



" In the hot weather this species keeps on the ground all day, 

 but rests on trees at night, whereas during the rains it is often 

 found in trees by day also. 



" In the hot weather the male is particularly noisy in the morn- 

 ings and evenings, but in the rains he hardly crows at all at 

 any time. 



" The crow of the male is a broken shrill ak-a-ak-khee given 

 forth very deliberately, and only at intervals, as the bird stalks 

 slowly along. When alarmed he gives out a rapid chick, exact- 

 ly like that of a domestic cock, calling as he runs. When much 

 alarmed he flies silently but rapidly and strongly. 



" The female gives voice but rarely, but with great volubility 

 when she does so. Her voice is hoarse, and the call may be 

 represented by the syllables dk-d-dk-d-dk or uk-d-uk-a-uk. It is 

 rapidly repeated." 



Writing- also from Abu, Captain Butler remarks : — 



" The ' cordon' system of driving is usually adopted in 

 shooting them here. The guns are placed behind screens 

 made previously by the ' Shikaris' at the ends of patches of 

 jungle the birds are known to affect, and the beaters are sent 

 round to drive the birds up to them, forming a semi-circular line 

 to prevent the birds escaping at the sides. It is very poor sport, 

 you seldom or never get a flying shot, and when you do, the 

 jungle is so thick that it is about 10 to 1 you miss. The birds, 

 especially the old cocks, are remarkably wary, and the moment 

 they hear the beaters they begin to run, stopping about every 

 50 yards to listen. 



" They have a very quick eye, and alter their course imme- 

 diately if they see or hear the slightest thing in front. The only 

 way, therefore, when you know a bird is coming, is to raise your 

 gun silently to your shoulder, turn very quietly in the direction 

 from which it is coming, and remain perfectly motionless, and 

 as soon as ever the bird gets within shot, fire. 



" I have shot them with dogs, but that is equally poor sport. 

 As soon as the Jungle-Fowl sees the dog, he flies up into a tree 

 and squats upon a bough until you dislodge him from his sup- 

 posed place of security with a charge of shot." 



Common as this species is over such a vast tract of country, 

 more exact information in regard to its nidification is still a 

 desideratum. Two eggs were taken in May when I was at 

 Abu, but as to the breeding season and other particulars I must 

 let my correspondents speak. 



Writing from Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, Miss Cockburn 

 remarks : " The hen forms her nest in woods on the ground, 



