the wooded hills surrounding the latter, up to an elevation of
nearly 9,000 feet ; and in every forest about Noakotc. It is
usually seen in pairs or in parties of from three to ten, often
feeding on the ground near cultivated patches at the borders
of forest.
" The birds seem very fond of perching on trees, and it is
usually in this position that one comes across them in forcing
one's way through forest which has a dense undergrowth. On
such occasions the Kalij first gives notice of its whereabouts
by whirring down with great velocity from its perch, and then
running rapidly out of sight to the shelter of some thicket.
In the winter the birds roost on trees at the foot of the hills,
and the plan for making a bag is to post one's self about sunset
under some trees which they are known to frequent, and await
their coming. The birds are then soon heard threading their
way through the jungle towards their favourite trees, and at
once fly up and perch. When once settled for the night in this
way, they arc not easily alarmed, and I have shot four or five
birds in quick succession before the rest of the party would
clear out to quieter quarters. Occasionally, too, one can get a
shot at the Kalij as they cross a hill path through the forest on
their way to or from some stream.
" Great numbers of the Nepal Kalij arc snared and brought
into Khatmandu for sale. The birds bear confinement in the
valley very well, and I reared several chicks to maturity."
I t may be useful to note that Mr. Hodgson had for two years
a perfectly pure white specimen of this species in confinement.
The irides, orbital skin, legs, feet and bill were all normally
coloured. The bird was a male, and when it died it was in fine
plumage.
M \ 1 I'.s MEASURED.—Length, 23-0 to 26'0 (according to t a i l ) ; expanse,
26'oto 295 ; wing, 87 to 9'2 ; tail from vent, 109 to 12-3 ;
tarsus, 2'8 to 3-05 ; bill from gape, T25 to 1-37. Weight, 1 lb.
12 ozs. to 2 lbs. 8 ozs.
Females.—Length, 19-3 to 20'5 ; expanse, 25'0 to 27'0 ; wing,
7'S to 8'5 ; tail, 7'3 to 87 ; tarsus, 23 to 2-9 ; bill from gape,
1 '2 to I '3 Weight, 1 lb. 5 ozs. to 2 lbs.
The bill is greenish horny, more or less dusky about nostril
ami base of maxilla ; sometimes the bills arc slightly greyer ;
irides usually dark brown, sometimes lighter ; orbital skin fine
crimson red, and, as in the other species, papillated ; lower eyelid
grey, with black spots ; legs and feet pale brownish, or dingy
greyish horny ; the toes usually a little darker than the tarsus ;
claws brownish horny ; spurs dusky.
THE PLATE seems to call for no special remark, except that
in fully adult and full-plumaged males, the tails are considerably
larger than here depicted.
DR. S C U L L Y ' S description of a chick of this species is interesting
:—
" Young.—A chick captured on the 10th of June, whose wing
measured only two inches, had the feet orange and the bill
greenish yellow horny ; the head was rufous brown ; the body
above dark brown ; each feather of the wing-coverts and scapulars
having a blackish subterminal bar, and a fulvous tip ; beneath
sullied fulvous. Young birds of both sexes about three months
old resemble the female, but have the bill livid at tip, the orbital
skin pale fleshy red, and the feet livid brownish. At this stage
the black subterminal bars on the upper feathers are still well
marked. The young male assumes the black plumage when
about five months old (such, at least, was the case in two specimens
I had in confinement); but at this age it still shows traces
of the original brown colour about the feathers of the neck
and upper back, and in this state it probably represents Latham's
"Nepal Pheasant'' (" Ind. Orn.," II., 632.)