PHEASANTS. 225 



to perceive in tlio thickets, in spite of their rich jihnn;ige, ami, when disturbed, run 

 swiftly to another cover. When roused by dogs, they fly into trees and call vocifer- 

 ously, but on man's ajiproach they take flight, and do not alight again until a long 

 distance has been traversed. In early spring — April — the males begin to call, inviting 

 the females to some chosen spot. The nest is roughly formed of grass, small sticks 

 and feathers, and the eggs are large and vary from a pale ca/e an luit color, to a dull 

 reddisli-bul'f minutely sj)eckled with a darker shade. One of the most characteristic 

 points of these birds is the modes of 'showing off' adoj)ted by the male. After 

 walking about in an e.vcited manner he places himself before the female, with the 

 body crouching, and the tail bent down ; the head is then jerked downward, and the 

 horns and wattle become conspicuous. The wings have a fl:ij)])iiig movement, and 

 the neck ajipears to swell and the horns vibrate. Suddeidy the bird draws himself to 

 his full height, the wings are expanded and quivering, the horns are erected, and the 

 wattles fully displayed. At other times he simjily erects his feathers ami elevates one 

 shoulder, presenting a greater surface to view, but does not exhiliit the wattles, and a 

 third method is to stand on a perch, and, by shaking the head, exhibiting for a moment 

 the horns and wattle. The other known species of Ceriornis are <'. hhjthii from 

 upper Assam, ('. ctihoti of soutiiwostern China, and C. temminckii of central China. 



A very curious bird was procured by Abbe David in Moni)in, Thibet, and consti- 

 tutes the sole known sjiecies of the genius 7htraop/u(.iiii, and is called T. odscurim. 

 Possessing the powerful bill of the members of IjOphop/ionis, it has none of the bril- 

 liant colors of those birds, but is clothed in a plumage more like that of the snow- 

 partridges ( Tctraoffcdliis), and would seem to be a connecting link with those species 

 and the Phasianidte. The sexes are alike, their dress being a combination of dark brown 

 and graj-, with a yellowish-white abdomen. It is rather a large bird of about twenty 

 inches in length, and is common in the mountain ranges of eastern Kakonoor, goes in 

 small flocks in the depths of the forests, and feeds upon roots wliich it digs uj) witii 

 its powerful bill. 



The gorgeously plumaged species of the genus Lophophorus arc three or four in num- 

 ber, L. sclateri, L. Vhmjsii, and L. impeyanus. It is difficult by means of a written de- 

 scription to give any idea of the magnificent appearance of these brilliant birds to any 

 one who has not seen them. Their metallic hues of liery red, green, purjile, and gold vie 

 in beauty and in their iridescent quality with the brightest of those seen among the 

 humming-birds, and if one could imagine one of these small flying gems increased to 

 the size of a fowl, something of the appearance of these monals might be conveyed 

 to the mind. Sclater's monal from Assam, and L'liuysii's from Thibet, are very little 

 known, save that they inhabit the the high ranges of mountains. The latter sjiecies, 

 at about 14,000 feet of elevation, goes in small flocks and feeds on roots. The im- 

 peyan pheasant, which ranges throughout the Himmalchs, is well known, and its econ- 

 omy and habits are thoroughly familiar through the observations of many competent 

 naturalists. In summer they ascend to great elevations, having been met with at a 

 height of 16,000 feet, but in winter, when the snows are heavy, they descend some- 

 times as low as 4,500 feet, the females generally coming farther down than the old 

 males. Occasionally they are found in considerable numbers scattered through the 

 forest, the sexes generally by themselves, and if they i>air, which is doubtful, the 

 males leave the females and pay no attention to her while sitting, nor to the young 

 when hatched. The call is a plaintive whi.stle, sometimes heard at all hours of the 

 day. As a rule they are not wild save when much hunted, or in the spring, and when 



VOL. IV. — 15 



