432 APPENDIX. 
been puzzled ever since to know what it could have been, until your ‘Game Birds’ 
appeared, when I recognized the description at once. The Black-breasted Kalij 
was common, and I had shot numbers of them in the same locality, so there is no 
chance of my having mistaken the Aracan Silver Pheasant for the Kalij. The 
splendid blue of the bird I saw was very striking. It was ot slender make, and 
very shy, and quick in its movements. I only had a rifle in hand or couid have 
secured it.” 
THE RED JUNGLE-FOWL. (Vol. L, pp. 217, e¢ seg.)— 
Mr. H. Fasson says: ‘‘ Jungle-Fowl, which the people call Kura, afford very fine 
sport here in Chittagong. The low hills which fringe the bases of the various 
ranges are divided by numerous narrow valleys, which have been now converted 
into long winding strips of paddy cultivation, while the hills themselves still remain 
clothed with scrub jungle and forest. The birds attracted to the cover these more 
or less isolated hills afford, by the rice in the intervening valleys, may be flushed, 
in great numbers, by coolies beating through the scrub, and afford fine shooting to 
sportsmen posted in the valleys, as the birds cross these, seeking new cover in 
the next of these low hills. They fly under these conditions very fast, and take 
hard hitting to bring them down.” 
THE GREY JUNGLE-FOWL. (Vol. L, pp. 231, ef seg.)— 
There is a great difference of opinion as to the value of this species for the table. 
Major McInroy writes: ‘* Mr. Davison says (Vol. I., p. 235): The Grey Jungle- 
Cock, even at the best, is very dry and hard. This is correct literally as to the old 
cock, but most people would suppose it to apply to the species, and if so, it cannot 
be said to be so everywhere, as a young bird of either sex is most palatable and 
gamey, when hung for a day or two. ‘This applies to Mysore.” 
To whom replies Captain E. A. Butler as follows: ‘‘ Adverting to the remarks 
of Mr. Davison and Major McInroy on the Grey Jungle-Fowl, as a bird for table, 
I beg to record my experience :— 
“¢ When living at Mount Aboo some years ago, I shot numerous Jungle-Fowl at 
the foot of the hill, in the co/d weather, and always found them (old and young of 
both sexes) excellent eating, reminding one of the flavour of an English Pheasant. 
On turning to the account of the bird in the first volume of the GAME BiRDs, I was 
surprised to find it cried down as an article of food, and intended writing to you 
before ; however. perhaps it is as well I delayed doing so. as my opinion now is 
changed from the following circumstance: At the beginning of March, this year, 
I shot a pair of, Jungle-Fowl (male and female) near Belgaum, in the afternoon, and 
in the evening, after returning home, my butler said they smelt so strong that he did 
not consider them fit for table. Having decided upon skinning them, I had them 
put upon one side till the following day, when I discovered that the strong odour, 
referred to by the butler, arose from the crops of the birds being charged to the 
muzzle with human excrement. 
‘¢ This may be an exceptional case, but as food is scarce in the hot weather, I have 
no doubt myself that, at that season, they feed constantly upon the filth I have 
mentioned, so recommend those who regard the flesh as ‘palatable and gamey’ 
to satisfy themselves in future before ordering them for table as to the source from 
which that ‘ gamey’ flavour is produced. 
‘*T may add that two Pea-Fowl, shot the same day, had their crops also bulged 
with the same disgusting food, and yet all of the birds were shot in a wild jungle 
far away from any village, and where only a few wood-cutters existed. In the 
cold weather and in the rains, when food is abundant, I dare say they may be fit 
for table, and indeed I know from experience that they are excellent eating ; but 
in the hot weather, when their natural food is scarce, there can be no doubt, from 
the above facts, that they are the foulest of feeders, as also are the Grey and 
Black Partridges, some of the Button-Quails, and numerous other species of so-called 
Game Birds that I could mention.” 
THE PAINTED SPUR-FOWL. (Vol. I, pp. 255, e¢ seg.)— 
Several correspondents note additional localities where this species has been 
observed, Mr. A. M. Markham says: “I have shot the Painted Spur-Fowl in 
