234



Mr. R. I. Pocock,



sound when showing off in this fashion ; but the display of the

second kind, in my experience far the commoner of the two, is

frequently heralded by a chirping sort of whistle which brings

the hen running to his side as if expecting food.


The attitude of this second and prevalent display is very

remarkable. The cock faces the hen, raises and spreads the tail

and wings, thus bringing the rows of ocelli into full view, and



FRONTAE DISPLAY OF THE PEACOCK-PHEASANT. (Fig. 2 ).



at the same time tilts up the back until it is quite vertical and in

the same plane as the erect tail, tucks the head and neck back

and down between the bases of the wings and lowers the throat

to the ground so that the legs are entirely concealed from view

in front. In this position the bird looks, not like a bird at all,

but like an irregularly triangular speckly-brown shield adorned

with transversely arcuate bands of ocelliform studs (fig 2).


Thus this display of the Peacock-pheasant is essentially

‘ frontal ’ and dorsal. Apart from certain minor features, like the



