" In the months of December and January the temperature
in the forests of Central India, especially in the valleys, is very
low, and the cold, from sudden evaporation, intense at sunrise.
The Tea-Fowl in the forests may be observed at such times still
roosting, long after the sun has risen above the horizon. As
the mist rises off the valleys, and gathering into little clouds,
goes rolling up the hill-sides till lost in the ethereal blue, the
Pea-Fowl descend from their perch on some huge sfmal or sal
tree, and, threading their way in silence through the underwood,
emerge into the fields, and make sad havoc with the channa,
urad (both vetches), wheat, or rice. When sated, they retire
into t h e neighbouring thin jungle, and there preen themselves,
and dry their bedewed plumage in the sun. The cock stands
on a mound, or a fallen trunk, and sends forth his well-known
cry, " peb.au«—pchauw," which is soon answered from other
parts of the forest. The hens ramble about, or lie down
dusting their plumage, and so they pass the early hours while
the air is still cool, and hundreds of little birds are flitting and
chirruping about the scarlet blossoms of the " p a l a s " or the
" sfmal." As the sun rises, and the dewy sparkle on the foliage
dries up, the air becomes hot and still, the feathered songsters
vanish into shady nooks, and our friends, the Pea-Fowl, depart
silently into t h e coolest depths of the forest, to some little sandy
stream canopied by verdant boughs, or to thick beds of reeds
and grass, or dense thorny brakes overshadowed by mossy
rocks, where, though the sun blaze over the open country, the
green shades arc cool, and the silence of repose unbroken,
though the shrill cry of the cicada may be heard ringing faintly
through the wood.
" These birds cease to congregate soon after the crops arc
off the ground. The pairing season is in the early part of the
hot weather. The Peacock has then assumed his full train, that
is, the longest or last rows of his upper tail-coverts, which he
displays of a morning, strutting about before his wives. These
strange gestures, which the natives gravely denominate the
Peacock's nautck, or dance, are very similar to those of a turkeycock,
and accompanied by an occasional odd shiver of the quills,
produced apparently by a convulsive jerk of the abdomen.
The same thing occurs in a turkey-cock—a little start and a
puff and a short run forward, as if something had exploded
unpleasantly close behind him. These are all blandishments,
we arc told, t o - a l l u r e the female, and doubtless have a most
fascinating effect."
Mr. Reid remarks t h a t :—
" Taking Oudh as a whole, Pea-Fowl are found abundantly
wherever suitable localities occur, and they are specially numerous
in the Tarai. They abound in the extensive dhak and
thorn jungles so characteristic of many parts of the province,
and the banks of rivers and nalas passing through these are
never-failing resorts. Forests with plenty of brushwood, wellwooded
ravines and bamboo brakes, are all favourite haunts ;
while they may also be found in a semi-domesticated state,
dodging about village pan-fields, gardens and groves.
" They appear to be pretty regular in their habits, frequenting
the same feeding-grounds by day, and returning to the
same perch at night. Towards dusk they may be seen flying
into the solitary banyan, and other wild-fig trees, that here
and there rise above the level of the surrounding jungle, and
segregated thus, it is not an unusual thing to hear them calling
to and answering each other at all hours of the night.
" They rest in thickets during the heat of the day, and come
forth to the fields and open glades to feed in t h e mornings and
evenings.
" They live for the most part on grain when procurable, but
do not object to insects and grubs, and—sorry am I to say it—
snakes 1 Years ago—I kept no notes at the time, but remember
the circumstance well—my cook took a small snake, about 8
inches long, from the stomach of one which I had given him
to clean."
Adams tells us t h a t :—
" At Kallar Kahar, in t h e Salt Range of the Punjab, there
are several shrines where t h e Pea-Fowl collect from t h e neighbouring
jungles to be fed by the fakirs and religious devotees. There
at break of day, as the sportsman is clambering over the rough
sides of the ravines in quest of Oorial [Qvis vignit), he will
often be struck with the scene, as hundreds of male Pea-Fowl, in
all their native elegance and beauty, dash down the glens with
a rapidity of flight unknown to the denizens of the English farmyard.
Many sportsmen ignore this species, and will not allow
it a place in their game-list. It is true that in many localities
they might be killed with little trouble ; but among the dense
and tangled jungles of the lower Himalayan ranges, it is wild
and wary."
" Pea-Fowl," says Burgess, " abound in the jungles, clothing the
slopes of the ghats, and in some wooded districts in the
interior. In the Deccan, in the wooded hilly portions of the
districts of Jainkhair and Scogao, they were plentiful ; and a
remarkably pretty sight it was to see them stalking about near
the grain-stacks, or running along the bushy banks of the
nalas. They are wary birds, and lead the sportsman a good
chase when once they take to the low spurs of the hills, up
which they run with incredible swiftness. The best plan to
secure them is to wait for their roosting-time, under the trees
to which they resort. Thick mango trees appear to be their
favourite resting places."
Mr Vidal sends me the following note:—
" In the Ratnagiri District, Pea-Fowl are found here and there
sparingly in suitable localities. Near the coasts they affect the