THK (V//N i' i \ I 



The general color of the Common Jacana i- black, with a -litrht greenish gloss, taking 



A rusty p-d tinting on th- The primary qiiill-f.vr the wing are 



tfreeii. and the wings are furni-h.-d at tin- U-ml with lon^ an<l sharp .-law-. In the Al 

 -l--.-i.-s i hex,- spm- a iv hardh i-envptibl. At the the U-ak is a curi..u- feathery 



api-eiida:,-.-. ri-inc UJM.H the f..rehead above and depending toward- th.- -hin below. The 

 daws are all \--:\ l"Ug, 

 idly that of the 

 hind to.-, which i- nearly 

 Mraitfht, and longer than 

 th.- toe fnim which it 

 proceeds. 



THK pn-tty CIIIVBBB 



.1 V. \N V well de-.TV.-S the 



title <>f ll\ drophasianos, 



or Wat. T Ph.-axant. a 



name which has been 

 given to it on account of 

 the two long tail-feat hers 

 which droop gracefully in 

 a gentle curve. The quill- 

 feathers of the wings are 

 also remarkable for cer- 

 tain little apj>-ndatfes. like 



hairy plumes, which pro- 

 ceed from the tip of each 

 shaft. 



The Chinese Jacana, 

 or Mi i w A, is not confined 

 to the country from which 

 it deri ves its popular name, 

 hut is found in various 

 parts of Asia, and has been 

 obtained from the Hima- 

 layas and the Philippines. 



It is a very active bird on foot, or in the water, swimming with easy grace, and traversing- 

 the floating herbage in search of its food, which resembles that of most aquatic birds. A 

 tamed s]M-cimen fed n-adily on shrimps. It i-not very fond of using its wings, but when flying, 

 extends the lei:- backwards after the same fashion as the h.-nm. The flesh of the Chinese- 

 Jacana is very excellent, and has been likened to that of the snipe, so that the bird is in some 

 request among sportsmen. Shooting it is, however, no very easy task, as a wounded bird is 

 seldom if ever recovered, diving at once and remaining submerged umil the foe has left the 

 spot, or death has released it from its suffering 



The nest of the Chinese Jacana is made <.f reeds and grasses, is flat in form, and is 

 supjM>rted u]*>n the woven stems of aquatic plants. The eggs are about six or seven in 

 numU-r. and their color is olive-brown. These binls breed during the rains, and choose those 

 spots when- the lotus is plentiful. The voice resembles the mewing of a distressed kitten, to 

 which fact i- owini; it- native name of Meewa. 



The colors of the male bird a re bold and striking. The bark and under parts are d.-'p 

 chocolate-brown, the elongated tail i- a still darker brown . and the wings, top of the head, 

 throat, and pan <>f the neck are white. The kick of the neck is orange, and a narrow black 

 line, separates it from the whit.- of the throat. Th -*, and beak are grass-green At 



the end of the primary feathers are certain filamentou- and somewhat lanrit-sha]M<d apj-nd- 

 ages, which, according to some writers, hinder th- bin! in its flir.ht. The female is quite 

 sober in her plumage. The upper part of the body and head is pale brown, warming to red on 



JACANA ftrrm 



