THE MOONAL PHEASANTS. 239 



green, margined with white, and the tail bluish-green, glossed 

 with purplish-blue; the middle of the feathers mostly black, 

 irregularly spotted on each side of the shaft with white. Total 

 length, 30 inches; wing, 12*6; tail, 10*3; tarsus, y^. 



Adult Female. — Easily recognised from the female of L. refill- 

 gens by having the whole of the lower back pure white. 



Range.— Western Sze-chuen in West China, extending to 

 Eastern Koko-nor. 



Habits.— Abbe David tells us that "this splendid Moonal in- 

 habits the highest regions of Moupin and Eastern Koko-nor, as 

 well as the western frontier of Sze-chuen, where it is met with in 

 small flocks on the grassy slopes above the region of forest, roost- 

 ing in the trees at night. Its general food consists of vegetable 

 substances, particularly succulent roots, which it digs up with 

 ease by the help of its strong beak. As it searches in particular 

 for those of a Fritillaria commonly known as Pae-mow, the 

 natives call it by the name of Pae-moiv-ky. In its native country 

 the adult male is also called Ho-than-ky (Shining Metallic-Fowl) 

 on account of its metallic plumage. It is a very shy bird, of ex- 

 tremely powerful flight, and its cry, which one hears in the early 

 morning and during rain, consists of three or four separate 

 piercing notes uttered at intervals." From certain information 

 that Abbe David received, he believed that this Moonal is also 

 found in Yunan and in Quei-chow, and it is certain, in any case, 

 that it is found throughout the greater part of Eastern Tibet, but 

 it is everywhere rare, and it cannot be long before it completely 

 disappears : for the Chinese are constantly in pursuit of it, and 

 catch these splendid birds by means of snares for the sake of 

 their delicate flesh. 



This bird is found at a higher altitude than any of the other 

 species, being met with on the rocky plateaux near the limit 

 of perpetual snow, at elevations of about 16,000 feet above the 

 sea level. It roosts on the stunted rhododendrons or descends 

 to the pine-forests. 



