pheasants in the world and these are shown in the identification chart brought out by the Environment Society of India (ESI). The purpose of this chart is to create awareness among members of the school eco- clubs under the National Green Corps (NGC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Except for the Congo Peafowl, all the other pheasants are from Asia. Scientists believe that all pheasants originated from the Himalayas, and then scattered into Tibet, China, Myanmar, South and South East Asian countries as well as the Caucasus Mountains.
The jungle fowl and the peafowl spread to South India and Sri Lanka long before the early settlers established themselves in the Indo-Gangetic plain. About a third of all the pheasants in the world are found in India. The male blue peafowl (the peacock) is the best known member of the pheasant family and is India’s national bird. It occupies a prominent place in India’s art, culture and folklore.
S TEP Read the passage again asking yourself questions and answering them as you read. l What is the passage about? — Pheasants l Where found? — Asia; particularly India ( / of total population) l Origin?
— Himalayas l Time? — Long before Indo-Gangetic plain settlements. l Which group of birds? — Order: Galliformes (game birds); Family — Phasinidae l How many species?
— l What is the source of information? — ESI chart l What is the purpose of the ESI chart? — Create awareness among school eco-clubs under NGC l Which is the best known member? — Peacock, India’s national bird S TEP With the help of the answers note down the main points.
Write the points without full forms of the verbs. l Pheasants — shy birds with bright plumage found largely in Asia, especially India l Origin in the Himalayas and spread in China, Myanmar, South and SE Asia. l Order: Galliformes — game birds; Family: Phasinidae l No. of species: (ESI chart) l Purpose of ESI chart — Creating awareness among school eco-clubs under NGC.