224 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



the cheeks, but are susceptible of being inflated and raised, 

 when they present the appearance of veritable horns. 



It is found in the Himalayas, as well as in Thibet and 

 Nepaul. 



The bare skin round the eyes, the wattles and horns 

 are deep blue, and the crest, chin, and back of the neck 

 black ; the upper breast, neck and shoulders, are cinnamon 

 brown, shaded with purple andcarmine, each feather having 

 a rounded white tip ; these spots become larger as they near 

 the hinder parts, and are most conspicuous on the flanks ; 

 the tail coverts are yellowish brown, also spotted with 

 white, and are so large as almost to hide the tail, which is 

 rounded and rather short. 



In size the horned tragopan almost equals an ordinary 

 Minorca hen. 



Common Peafowl. — Although for a long time accli- 

 matised in England, this magnificent bird has its native 

 home in India, where it occurs in great numbers in suit- 

 able, that is wooded, localities, for although they feed 

 on the ground, these fine birds invariably roost in trees, 

 and at as great a height as possible. 



The hen laj's from ten to fifteen eggs, and the breeding 

 season extends in India from November to March. 



The train of the male is popularly called his tail, but 

 consists of the upper tail coverts enormously prolonged 

 and terminated by a racket-like expansion usual 1}'^ called 

 the eye. The real tail feathers are only seven or eight 

 inches long, and of a greyish brown colour ; they serve 

 to support the train when the bird elevates the latter. 



The female is much smaller, is of an ashy brown 

 colour, and almost destitute of train. 



The food of the peacock consists of grain, insects, snails, 

 and the succulent shoots of various plants. 



Peacock Pheasant. — The term polyplectron applied 



