224 



NATURAL II I STORY OF BIRDS. 



liglitiiiiig. The males crow at daybreak, or at any siulden noise, like thunder or the 

 report of a gun. The 8])ecies feeds on leaves, huds, roots, grubs, acorns, seeds, ber- 

 ries, moss, or flowers, and grain, and roosts in trees or on low bushes. It nests at 

 elevations of from 0,(100 to 9,000 feet, the breeding-time lasting from April to the 

 middle of June. The nest is a slight dejiression in the ground, and the eggs, seven 

 to nine in number, are a rich pale buff 8j)otted with deep brownish red. The species 

 is believed to be monogamous. 



The lragopan.s — by which name the memliei-sof the genus fenomij* are known — are 

 five in number, and are found in India and China. They are birds of extreme beauty 

 of plumage, presenting hues of the most brilliant reds, browns, buffs, and lustrous 





Ki<i. 107. — Cfriornis satyra, crimsou tragopau. 



blacks. The backs and liri'asts are usually covered with round white sjwts, like those 

 seen in the Guinea fowl, or else with buff spots of various sizes surrounded with 

 black. A fleshy horn, capable of being erected, and of various colors according to 

 the s])ecies, exists on eitlu'r side of the head ; and on the lower \>avt of the throat is 

 an extensible wattle of brilli:mt colors, in some species deep blue barred with bright 

 red, or yellow and shining green. When excited the males extend these gular aprons 

 over the breast, ])roducing for a moment a most beautiful effect. The best known of 

 these birds are the Indian crimson tragopan, ('. sati/ni, or the black-headed tragopan, 

 C. mcla/ioceji/iala. They are dwellers of the higher ranges, and are found in summer 

 at heights varying from 8,000 to 11,000 feet, arc essentially forest birds, very diflicult 



