occasionally commences its ordinary loud and plaintive call and
continues it for some time.
" In winter, when one or two birds have been flushed, all
within hearing soon get alarmed ; if they are collected together,
they get up in rapid succession ; if distantly scattered, bird after
bird slowly gets up, the shrill call of each as it rises alarming
others still further off, till all in the immediate neighbourhood
have risen. In the chestnut forests, where they often collect
in large flocks, and where there is little underwood, and the
trees, thinly dispersed and entirely stripped of their leaves, allow of
an extensive view through the wood, I have often stood till
twenty or thirty have got up and alighted in the surrounding
trees and have then walked up to the different trees and fired at
those I wished to procure without alarming the rest, only
those very close to the one fired at being disturbed at each
report.
" In spring they are more independent of each other's movements
; and, though much wilder, are more apt to wait, before
rising, till individually disturbed. When they alight in the
trees and are again flushed, the second flight is always a long
one. When repeatedly disturbed by the sportsman or shikaris,
they often take a l o n g flight in the first instance.
" The seasons also have great influence over them in this respect,
as well as in their degree of tamcness or wildness. In
spring, when the snow has melted in almost every part of the
forest, and they have little difficulty in procuring an abundance
of food, they appear careless about being driven from any particular
spot, and often fly a long way ; but in winter, when a
sufficiency of food is not easily obtained, they cling to particular
localities, seem more intent on satisfying their hunger, and do
not so much heed the appearance of man.
" The females appear at all times much tamer than the males.
The latter have one peculiarity not common in birds of this
order : if intent on making a long flight, an old male, after flying
a short way, will often cease flapping his wings, and soar
along with a trembling vibratory motion at a considerable height
in the air, when, particularly if the sun be shining on his brilliant
plumage, he appears to great advantage, and certainly looks one
of the most magnificent of the Pheasant tribe.
" In autumn the Moonal feeds chiefly on a grub or maggot
which it finds under the decayed leaves; at other times
on roots, leaves, and young shoots of various shrubs and grasses,
acorns, and other seeds and berries. In winter it often
feeds in the wheat and barley fields, but does not touch the
grain ; roots and maggots seem to be its sole inducement for
digging amongst it. At all times and in all seasons, it is very
assiduous in the operation of digging, and continues at it for
hours together. In the higher forests, large open plots occur
quite free from trees or underwood, and early in the morning,
T H E MOONAL. 129
or towards evening, these may often be seen dotted over with
Moonals, all busily engaged at their favourite occupation.
" The Moonal roosts in the larger forest trees, but in summer,
when near or above their limits, will often roost on the ground
in some steep rocky spot. The flesh is considered by some
nearly equal to Turkey, and by others as scarcely eatable. In
autumn and winter, many, particularly females and young
birds, are excellent, and scarcely to be surpassed in flavour or
delicacy by any of the tribe, while from the end of winter most
are found to be the reverse. They are easily kept in confinement,
and one would imagine might, without much difficulty,
be naturalized in Europe.
" The young males for the first year nearly resemble the
females, but may easily be distinguished by the white feathers
on the chin and throat being spotted with black. The vent
feathers are also marked with the same, and the whole plumage
has a darker and rather glossy appearance. When changing
their plumage, they appear spotted all over with the brilliant
metallic hues of the adult, and often present a very singular
appearance. The second year they receive the whole of their
splendid colours, with the exception of the seventh long
feather of the wing which keeps the brown colour for another
year.
" The most indifferent sportsman will find little difficulty in
getting the Moonal. After the rains, till the end of October,
the forests are scarcely fit to shoot in, except occasional spots in
the higher parts ; and, though a few may be picked up, good
sport cannot be expected till later in the season. In the
spring, about the borders of the forests on the high ridges
between one large valley and another, and about the large open
grassy plots which abound in those regions, they will be found
in great numbers; and, though rather wild,to one partial to birdshooting,
afford very fair sport. Always walk below the place
you expect to find them, as, with all the rest of the Himalayan
Pheasants, they invariably fly downwards. If a shot cannot be
had as the bird rises, and it alights on a tree, it is generally
easy to approach it by getting the trunk of an intervening
one betwixt the bird and yourself, keeping the body of the
bird covered with the trunk till near enough. The most agreeable
way of shooting Moonals is to change the smooth bore
for a small rifle, as most of the shots will be while the birds
arc in trees, and many which offer a fair shot for a rifle at eighty
or hundred yards fly off before one can get near enough for s h o t;
besides, it is excellent practice. From sportsmen only visiting the
interior in spring, or immediately after the rains, few can have
any idea what magnificent sport these birds afford in winter,
when collected together in a small extent of forest. One has
only then to encamp near some elevated village, in a well-wooded
neighbourhood, and in the morning or evening ten or a dozen