(a8 ® 
wide stretching downs at Sikarghum ; but of late years they have 
preferred the more sequestered hills of Nepal on the other side of 
the range. These pheasants are met with usually above 11,000 
feet altitude, seeking in preference pine forests, which are met with 
at this elevation. They feed, chiefly, on seeds; white (wild) ever- 
lasting daisies, and aconite roots which they are partial to. Whilst 
foraging, they use their bills a good deal, and dig up the more friable 
soil (ground at this elevation is loose, easily operated upon) when 
feeding male birds, act sentry, for their more careless, and self- 
reliant hens, Which feed in groups of twos and threes, whilst the 
cock bird, about a hundred yards off or more, works with extreme 
caution, always (on these hills) on a sharp look out, with his 
“weather eye” open for all emergencies. Either their sight or 
powers of hearing are so acute and accurate, that it is with remark- 
able care that any one can, on these hill slopes, get within close 
quarters, to observe their habits and peculiarities. Once a cock 
bird gets alarmed, the shrill cry, a click-click-click can be heard for 
miles, startling the hens, and other foraging groups. Usually the 
cry is taken up by another male, some half a mile away, and so on, 
till the neighbourhood is alive with their shrill clicking or cackling 
noise. These males are strong on the wing, and once raised, they 
sweep over the hill and down the gorge at a great speed, followed 
by the hens, a good way behind, and are soon lost to view, over 
crest of the hill, and down into dense forests in Nepal. I often 
wondered, these monogamous households, don’t get a bit mixed up; 
by what particular sign they re-collect again ; whether leaders ever 
get mixed up or trespass on anothers preserves, or loose sight of 
their hens, altogether. They don’t seem to care two raps, one way 
or the other, judging from the rapidity, and head long flight, hardly 
casting a second glance, or look for the safety of the hens, after once 
the imperative warning has been given. Call of the male is well 
known on these hills, a sort of quich-quick-quick, a double note of 
metallic sound, which slowly terminates, long after their safe arrival 
in the more hospitable “ bush.” You will frequently see, badly pre- 
pared skins of these birds, males chiefly, snared by hillmen ; brought 
in for sale, so it seems hardly necessary to describe these pheasants. 
Lophophorus is 24 inches in length ; colour of male, above, is bril- 
liant irridescent purple, on the back and neck: head, with crest 
and throat bright metallic green, a golden gloss over greater part of 
the head, neck and body ; wing-coverts, lower back and upper tail- 
coverts glossed with purple and green; quills black ; tail cinnamon 
rufous ; lower parts of the bedy black. 
(805) CERIORNIS SATYRA, Sikkim Horned Pheasant. This heau- 
tifully coloured pheasant is found nearer the snows, where it used 
to be found in biggish numbers ; but now they are less frequently 
