so r, 7ary-.that, although It nay occasionally be surprised or heard close to a 
path In the forest. It Immediately becomes aware of the presence of the ene¬ 
my, and runs off with great speed, instantly disappearing In the jungle. 
It does not, however, entirely confine Itself to forests, as I have some¬ 
times found It In lantana scrub and detached copses In the South-west of tne 
island. I have more than once, by rushing into a small thicket with shouts 
endeavoured to get It on the wing, but have always failed, as it Invariably 
escaped by darting through the grass and underwood on foot, and thus gained 
the main jungle In safety. 
On the coffee estates in the Central Province it comes out of the forest 
the first thing in the morning, and feeds along the edge of the plantations 
in silence; almost before the sun is up it will retreat into its native fast 
nesses, and about six or half past commences to call. There is-something 
highly ventriloqulstic in its.note, and "this, combined with the bird’s mo¬ 
ving about, as I believe they always do when they' are calling, makes it im¬ 
possible to get near them by following the sound of their notes. These are 
given out, and answered by the cocks, and if disturbed during the time they 
are cackling, they will wait a little, and then recommence louder than ever. 
Layard writes thus on their habits: - "After remaining some time conceal¬ 
ed, if nothing occurs to excite their fears, a cock bird, bolder than the 
rest, will utter a few low notes, not unlike the plaintive cry of a turkey 
poult; if this is answered from a distance, or the bird is reassured dv to¬ 
tal silence, this call is changed to"a loud piping whistle, and the oirds 
once more sally out from their concealment. 
I am convinced that, like the Virginian quail, these birds possess the 
power of ventriloquism to a great extent. I have often listened to those 
in my aviary, and could have declared that the calls proceeded from every 
part of the garden save that in which the performers were located. They 
fly - !7 ith great rapidity, but prefer to take refuge in concealment rather thaa 
maintain a lengthened flight. One which escaped from a basket in my nouse 
flew up to the roof, and through the ventilating holes, but instead of con¬ 
tinuing on the ” : ing at the elevation it had attained, it.dropped instantly 
into a small copse, out of which it was hunted with much difficulty, when it 
darted through an open door into my kitchen, and concealed itself behind a 
box. 
The males are very pugilistic, and in their manner of fighting remind me 
of the game-ooek, depressing and eleva.ting the head, and i.iit ting 
hers’ actions, <*<c. \ * 
eacn ot- 
