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



number of eggs if they are taken away as soon as laid, but this 

 means nothing. 



The breeding area seems to be at an elevation between 7,000 and 

 10,000 feet, and the type of country much the same as that fre- 

 quented by other birds of this genus. The period of incubation is 

 said to be 27 da3^s. 



As this is by far the most common of all the Tragopans in capti- 

 vity, there is a great deal on record about the displays indulged in 

 by the cock during the breeding season. The many descriptions 

 are well summarised by Beebe, who ^^'rites : 



" As the breeding season approaches and the loud chal- 

 lenge cries have remained unanswered, the cock commences 

 actual display. The principal preliminary overtures may be 

 described as follows : — 



1. " A slow stately walk about the female, the wing 

 toward her lowered and partly spread, the shoulder on the 

 further side raised, the body being thus flattened, with much 

 of the upper plumage in view. 



2. " A sudden rush with partly spread wings, with or 

 without the erecting of the horns, or the wattle or both. 



3. " In the tout-ensemhle of the climax, the bird sud- 

 denly ceases its stately gait, the plumage of most of the 

 lower parts is fluffed out ; the half-spread, drooping wings 

 move slowly, with wrist edges well out from the body and 

 tips pressed inwards and downwards ; the head and neck 

 vibrating spasmodically, until the horns and wattle flash 

 out to their utmost. This last touch gives to the Tragopan 

 an indescribable appearance ; from beautiful it becomes 

 gaudy ; ±rom an excited half-crouching bird it changes 

 to a grotesque, painted creature, and before one knows 

 whether to admire or merely marvel, the moment has passed, 

 the horns and wattle contract, the feathers settle, and after 

 a moment the Tragopan walks off"." 



The eggs are in texture, shape and colour like those of T. blythi, 

 but are duller, dirtier-looking eggs, paler in the ground coloiir and 

 more distinctly mottled and blotched or spotted wdth dingy 

 yellowish brown and dull violet. The number of blotches, &c., vary 

 considerabl)^, in one thej^ are practically absent, in most rather 

 numerous, whilst in some the}^ run into one another and cover most 

 of the egg. 



My 3 wild-laid eggs measure 54-1 x 41-4 mm.; 53*6 x 40-8 

 mm. ; 53-4 x 40-7 mm. respectivel3\ 



17 eggs in the British and Tiing Museum laid in captivity and 

 12 others I have been able to examine, measure in length between 

 50-5 x 40-5 and 57-1 x 41-1 mm., and in breadth between 

 52-6 x o5-8 and 55-2 x 41-8 mm. 



