221 



GENUS TRAGOPAN, CUVIER. 



THE Horned Pheasant of Edwards and Latham, 

 for the reception of which the Baron Cuvier esta- 

 blished his genus Tragopan, long puzzled ornitho- 

 logists, and we have it accordingly changed from one 

 place to another, and find it ranking sometimes with 

 Phasianus, sometimes with Meleagris, and at ano- 

 ther with Penelope. The form of these birds perhaps 

 approach as near to the next genus, or the Guinea 

 hen, as any other. The plumage is very ample ; the 

 tail comparatively short ; but the most prominent 

 feature about them is a loose pendent skin which 

 hangs from the base of the lower mandibles, and can 

 be inflated at pleasure ; and on the head, behind the 

 eyes, two lengthened protuberances, which are also 

 capable of enlargement and erection. The females, 

 again, are of unobtrusive plumage, and resemble 

 those of the last genus. This small group has been 

 now extended to four species. The first we shall 

 notice ia 



