4OO 



The Living Animals of the World 



Photo by C. Reid} 



[ Wiahaw, N.B. 



GOLDEN PHEASANT. 

 This bird is often kept in aviaries, on account of its magnificent livery. 



which may be heard for at least two miles in the still 

 this display is repeated . . . but they seem careful not 

 to run against each other, for they have not yet got to the 

 fighting-point. After a little while the lady birds begin to 

 show an interest in the proceedings, by moving about 

 quickly a few yards at a time, and then standing still a 

 short time. When these actions are continued by a large 

 number of birds at a time, it presents a funny sight, and 

 you can easily think they are moving to the measure of 

 music." 



The prairie-hens of America possess great economic 

 value, as great, indeed, as the red grouse of the British 

 Islands, enormous numbers of prairie-hens being exported 

 to Europe every year, whilst still greater numbers are 

 consumed by the American people themselves. It is said 

 that American grouse will sometimes eat the shoots of 

 a plant called kalmia, which renders the flesh poisonous. 



The SAGE-GROUSE is a rather large bird, attaining a 

 weight of 8 Ibs., found in the Western United States ; it 

 is, ; indeed, the largest of the American grouse. Its court- 

 ing habits resemble those of the prairie-hens. From the 

 book containing the above lively description we cull the 

 following : 



"Early one morning in the first week in March, 1877, 

 I had the long-wished-for opportunity to observe the actions 

 of a single cock while paying court to several females near 

 him. . . . His large, pale yellow air-sacs were fully inflated, 



morning air. Every few mmuteb 



Photo ly W. P. Dando, F.Z.S., Regent's Part, 

 GOLDEN PHEASANT. 



This bird is moulting. In full dress the cape seen in 

 the upper figure is golden with blue-black bars. 



