PHEASANTS. 225 



to perceive in the thickets, in spite of their rich plumage, and, when disturbed, run 

 swiftly to another cover. When roused by dogs, they fly into trees and call vocifer- 

 ously, but on man's approach they take flight, and do not alight again until a long 

 distance has been traversed. In early spring April the males begin to call, inviting 

 the females to some chosen spot. The nest is roughly formed of grass, small sticks 

 and feathers, and the eggs are large and vary from a pale cafe au lait color, to a dull 

 reddish-buff minutely speckled with a darker shade. One of the most characteristic 

 points of these birds is the modes of ' showing off ' adopted by the male. After 

 walking about in an excited manner he places himself before the female, with the 

 body crouching, and the tail bent down; the head is then jei-ked downward, and the 

 horns and wattle become conspicuous. The wings have a napping movement, and 

 the neck appears to swell and the horns vibrate. Suddenly the bird draws himself to 

 his full height, the wings are expanded and quivering, the horns are erected, and the 

 wattles fully displayed. At other times he simply erects his feathers and elevates one 

 shoulder, presenting a greater surface to view, but does not exhibit the wattles, and a 

 third method is to stand on a perch, and, by shaking the head, exhibiting for a moment 

 the horns and wattle. The other known species of Ceriornis are C. blythii from 

 upper Assam, C. caboti of southwestern China, and C. temminckii of central China. 



A very curious bird was procured by Abbe David in Moupin, Thibet, and consti- 

 tutes the sole known species of the genius Tetraop/iasis, and is called T. obscurus. 

 Possessing the powerful bill of the members of Lophophorus, it has none of the bril- 

 liant colors of those birds, but is clothed in a plumage more like that of the snow- 

 partridges (Tetraogallus}, and would seem to be a connecting link with those species 

 and the Phasianidre. The sexes ai - e alike, their dress being a combination of dark brown 

 and gray, with a yellowish-white abdomen. It is rather a large bird of about twenty 

 inches in length, and is common in the mountain ranges of eastern Kakonoor, goes in 

 small flocks in the depths of the forests, and feeds upon roots which it digs up with 

 its powerful bill. 



The gorgeously plumaged species of the genus Lophophorus are three or four in num- 

 ber, L. sdateri, L. VJiwysii, and L. impeyanus. It is difficult by means of a written de- 

 scription to give any idea of the magnificent appearance of these brilliant birds to any 

 one who has not seen them. Their metallic hues of fiery red, green, purple, and gold vie 

 in beauty and in their iridescent quality with the brightest of those seen among the 

 humming-birds, and if one could imagine one of these small flying gems increased to 

 the size of a fowl, something of the appearance of these monals might be conveyed 

 to the mind. Sclater's monal from Assam, and L'huysii's from Thibet, are very little 

 known, save that they inhabit the the high ranges of mountains. The latter species, 

 at about 14,000 feet of elevation, goes in small flocks and feeds on roots. The im- 

 peyan pheasant, which ranges throughout the Himmalehs, is well known, and its econ- 

 omy and habits are thoroughly familiar through the observations of many competent 

 naturalists. In summer they ascend to great elevations, having been met with at a 

 height of 16,000 feet, but in winter, when the snows are heavy, they descend some- 

 times as low as 4,500 feet, the females generally coming farther down than the old 

 males. Occasionally they are found in considerable numbers scattered through the 

 forest, the sexes generally by themselves, and if they pair, which is doubtful, the 

 males leave the females and pay no attention to her while sitting, nor to the young 

 when hatched. The call is a plaintive whistle, sometimes heard at all hours of the 

 day. As a rule they are not wild save when much hunted, or in the spring, and when 

 VOL. iv. 15 



