326 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



The majority of eggs are rather long in shape and fairly compressed 

 at the smaller end, a few are very long and narrow and here and there 

 is one but little compressed. I have seen no egg which could be des- 

 cribed as a broad oval. 



The surface is fine and close, but there is very little or no gloss, and 

 the shell, for the size of the egg, is not very strong. 



The average size of 52 eggs is 64 ' 7 X 44 ' 3 mm., whilst of those which 

 have passed through my hands the longest and broadest measure 

 respectively 69" 8 x 44' 8 mm., and 62 • 6 x 48" 8 mm. The shortest and 

 most narrow are 59 '6 + 45 '3 mm., and 61 '0 x 41 '6 mm. Beebe records 

 the narrowest egg as 43 mm. only. 



The period of incubation varies from 26 to 29 days, but is 

 generally 27. 



Wilson ("Momitaineer") says that the cock bird takes no interest in 

 the hen, eggs or yomig once the pairing season is over and the eggs 

 laid, and this want of marital and paternal affection seems to be con- 

 firmed by modern observers. Before, however, the breeding season 

 is in full swing the male becomes most assiduous in his attentions to 

 his prospective bride, and his courting displays have frequently been 

 described. Major Rodon gives an excellent description of the nuptial 

 dance and his remarks thereon are worth careful attention. 



" W^ien shooting in the Himalayas this April I noticed early 

 " one morning, while sitting behind a tree, a pair of Moonal 

 " Pheasants feedmg a short distance from me, on a flat terrace 

 " on the open hillside. They were so close that I was able to see 

 "their every movement distinctly. After bemg busily engaged 

 " some time in their usual digging operations, the hen bird 

 " stopped work and uttered her call note severaltimes, upon which 

 "the cock, wiio was at the time some little distance away, ran 

 " up to her with his wiiigs raised high above the back, tail spread 

 "and neck and body feathers distended. He then moved 

 " quickly to and fro for a few seconds in front of the hen, who 

 " stood quietly looking on at his performance ; he then abruptly 

 "closed his wings and tail, turned about and ran back to his 

 "feeding ground while the hen went on with her brealdast. As 

 " the early morning sun was shining on the birds, the sudden 

 " appearance of the cock in the above performance was most 

 "splendid to look upon, the beautiful metallic hues of the wings 

 " and throat, with the pure white of the back and the chestnut 

 " coloured tail, spread like a fan behind, shone out most gorge- 

 " ously. I believe in all courting displays among birds of fine- 

 " coloured plumage, the hen takes a most passive part, and does 

 " not in any way call the performance up ; but the male birds 

 "themselves of their own accord go through the ceremony of 

 "shewing off their fine feathers in front of their lady loves. But 

 "in this case the lady, by her calls, appear to have directly 



