v PHASIANIDAE 207, 
on its elongated train of erectile tail-coverts; but other striking 
points are the bare-shafted crest and naked white face; while the 
comparatively dull-coloured Pea-hen lacks the train of the male and 
the spur on each metatarsus. In the wild state these birds are shy, 
and run particularly fast, while they occasionally fly in small 
flocks; they inhabit the hill-forests or ravines near water-courses 
in India and Ceylon, roosting in large trees, making a slight 
nest on the ground, ruined buildings, or more rarely branches, 
and laying from four to about ten yellowish or reddish eggs, 
sometimes faintly spotted with rufous. The ery is a harsh mew- 
ing squeal, or a “ cok-cok-cok” when flushed; the food resembles 
that of the Turkey, but is at times varied by fish or flesh; and, 
as in that bird, the males are said to dance or strut around when 
courting, each securing three or four consorts. Peafowl are sup- 
posed to indicate the proximity of tigers, and are sacred to 
various Indian castes, while foolish superstition considers the 
“eyed” feathers unlucky! Introduced to England at some very 
early date, they were formerly thought a great delicacy for the 
table. P. nigripennis, the “Japanned Peacock,” is a species, or 
perhaps variety, with deep blue wing-coverts and other. slighter 
differences, the female being almost entirely greyish-white; P. 
muticus, a valid species from the Indo-Chinese countries and Java, is 
distinguished by the golden-green neck and chest and the blue and 
yellow skin of the face ; the crest feathers being here fully webbed. 
Argusianus argus, the Argus Pheasant, has a short black 
crest ; black, rufous, and buff plumage with white barring on the 
nape and tail-coverts; and enormously developed secondaries and 
median rectrices, covered respectively with large reddish-yellow 
and small white ocelli, which are margined with black; the 
naked cheeks and throat are blue, the bill is bluish-white, the 
feet are red. It inhabits the forests of the Indo-Malay mainland 
and Sumatra, the cock being said only to meet the hens occasion- 
ally, and to reserve an open spot for courting purposes, where 
he shows himself off by dancing before them with the tail and 
secondaries expanded into a large fan. This bird flies little, but 
runs with celerity, having a loud ery, feeding on vegetable 
matter and insects, nesting like the Pea-fowl, and laying similar 
egos. A, grayi of Borneo shows white on the mantle and much 
red on the breast, A. bipunctatus is only known from an imperfect 
primary. The females lack the ocelli and elongated tail. A. 
