mosa. The male bird may be observed in spring 

 making absurd attitudes before the females, a thing 

 many of the pheasant tribe do in the courting season. 



The Silver Pheasant {GenncBiis nycthetnems) a well 

 known species, of which the Society possess a male 

 and two females, comes from South China. Like so 

 many other species of pheasants (including the 

 "Common" Pheasant) the Silver Plieasant, though 

 well known in captivity, is not a bird that has been 

 observed to any great extent in a state of nature. 



Of the beautifully marked Tragopans, the Zoo- 

 logical Society at present have two species, namely, 

 "Temminck's" Tragopan {Cerioniis tenimiiicki) and 

 " Cabot's " Tragopan (C. caboti). Both these birds are 

 remarkable rather for beautifully elaborated pattern 

 than for brilliancy of colouring, though the males of 

 both have bright colour in their plumage, besides that 

 on their very curious brilliant throat lobes or 

 " aprons " or gular flaps as they are variously called. 

 In the "Temminck's" this gular flap is a brilliant 

 deep blue with red spots on the outer edges and in the 

 " Cabots " it is orange, marked with an emerald green 

 band, but in both cases these colours are only seen 

 when the gnlar flap is expanded, as it often is in the 

 courting season. Unfortunately these birds are shy 

 and retiring in confinement, and it is not often that 

 one has the chance of seeing the courting displa}^ 

 though I my.serf have had an opportunity of seeing 

 the "Temminck's" displaying. Tiiis bird has the 

 upper surface beautifully marked with various shades 

 of olive brown, with grey spots and black markings. 

 The under surface is a rich reddish scarlet, with grey 

 spots on each feather. The female is spotted with 

 bufi^, reddish yellow, and brown, on a black ground. 

 The lower parts being yellowish buff, with small 

 black spots and whitish marks on the shafts of the 

 flanks. 



