Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 379 



front '4375, from gape '5625 ; extent 20. The bill and orbital 

 skin in this species are blue. 



803. Pavo cristatus. Common Peacock. 



This bird is so universally known that further description is 

 almost useless, and I need only mention a native idea regarding 

 it — that in the jungles frequented by tigers Peafowl are sure to 

 abound; in fact the sight of one in the jungle is a pretty sure 

 sign for some one in the party to say, " You may now look out 

 for a tiger." I doubt myself if there is really any connexion 

 between the two except that Peafowl are very wary birds, and 

 perhaps the tiger is naturally attracted to them by their quick- 

 ness in showing the approach of an enemy. On one occasion, 

 when passing through the Maldah jheel in a boat, and being 

 hard up for food, I saw some Peafowl on the shore and wanted 

 to land to kill one ; but the boatmen were afraid of accompany- 

 ing me, on account of tigers; so I had to go by myself, when I 

 shot a iine Peacock and ate nothing else for some days, until I 

 was quite tired and sick of it. 



Pavo muticus I have seen in captivity at Moulmein, where 

 my friend Colonel Brown had a young one which used to walk 

 at will about the house and grounds, and knew as well as pos- 

 sible the hours for meals, at which it was a regular visitor; but 

 it invariably waited until fed, and never attempted to steal from 

 the table. This bird, I think, was afterwards sent home to the 

 gardens of the Zoological Society of London. 



804. LoPHOPHORUS iMPEYANUs. Mouaul Pheasant. 



This gorgeous bird is found in the interior of Sikkim and on the 

 higher hills beyond Simla ; but I never came across it in the wild 

 state, although I procured several skins from native shikarries. 



805. Ceriornis satyra. Sikkim Horned Pheasant. 



I first met with this handsome bird near Darjeeling, when on 

 the march from that station to Mount Tongloo in 1862, but 

 failed to secure a specimen, although I heard their booming 

 call both morning and evening. Some fine specimens of this 

 species were sent down by Tchebu Llama for exhibition in Cal- 

 cutta at the Agricultural Show held there in 18G5, and, I fancy, 

 were sent on thence to England"^. 



* The dimensions of this species are priven by Lieut. -Colonel 'i'ickell. iu 

 N. S. VOL. IV. 2 D 



