THE HORNED PHEASANTS. Z25 



coloured or salmon on the sides, which are spotted or edged 

 with blue. Total length, 27 inches; wing, io'8 ; tail, 9*2 ; tar- 

 sus, 31. 



Adult Female. — Differs from the female of T. satyra in having 

 the general tone of the plumage much greyer, with very little 

 rufous-buff, even on the wings and under-parts. 



Range. — Higher ranges of the western Himalayas from Native 

 Gurhwal westwards to Cashmere. 



Habits. — Writing from Kulu, of this species, which is com- 

 monly, though incorrectly, known as the " Argus " by most 

 Indian sportsmen, Mr. Young remarks : " They keep in 

 companies of from two or three to ten or a dozen, not in 

 compact flocks, but scattered widely over a considerable space 

 of forest, so that many at times get quite separated, and are 

 found alone. . . . 



" The trees furnishing them with a sufficiency of food, though 

 the ground be covered with snow many feet in depth, the 

 severest storms of winter do not, speaking of the species 

 generally, cause them to change their locality. After a severe 

 fall of snow, a few occasionally leave for a time their usual 

 haunts, if in a very bleak quarter, or at any considerable eleva- 

 tion, and are found in places widely differing, as small patches 

 of forest on a bare exposed hillside, narrow wooded ravines, 

 patches of low brushwood and jungle, and anywhere where the 

 ground is sheltered from the sun by trees and bushes. Some- 

 times one is found in a similar situation in fine weather, proba- 

 bly driven out of its retreat by an Eagle* or Falcon ; but these 

 are rare exceptions, and they soon again return to their regular 

 resorts. 



"At this season, except for its note of alarm when disturbed, 

 the Tewar is altogether mute, and is never heard of its own 

 accord to utter a note or call of any kind, unlike the rest of our 

 Pheasants, all of which occasionally crow or call at all seasons. 

 When alarmed, it utters a succession of wailing cries, not un- 



* The Nepal Hawk-Eagle {Limnaetus nipalcnsis) is an inveterate foe to 

 both species of Tragopan and to the Moonal. 



Q Q 



