402 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



Phot by Sihelajtie Phtte. C,J [Parstnt Gntn 



TEMMINCK'S TRAGOPAN 



Tragopant are remarkable for a jlcshy horn aboi>e each eye^ not notice- 

 able save ivhen the bird is excited 



, F.Z.S. 



fli,i,bf If. F. Da 



CHINESE TRAGOPAN 



The scarlet plumage t>f tome of the Tragopant it mott gorgeout 



and not only extended forward but apparently 

 upward as well, rising at least an inch above 

 his head, which consequently was scarcely 

 noticeable, giving the bird an exceedingly 

 peculiar appearance. He looked decidedly 

 top-heavy and ready to topple over on the 

 slightest provocation." He then proceeds to 

 describe the further preparations designed for 

 conquest. The tail is spread fan wise, and 

 animated with a peculiar quivering motion, 

 whilst the wings are trailed upon the ground. 

 When the correct position has been assumed, 

 he advances with stately, hesitating steps 

 towards his mate, uttering, as he moves, " low, 

 grunting, guttural sounds " resembling those of 

 a purring cat, but louder. This, apparently, 

 is the prescribed method of courting; of many 

 suitors, he is selected who performs best. 



The RUFFED GROUSE, like the prairie-hen, 

 has the neck, in the male, ornamented with a 

 frill of long feathers. Like many other birds, 

 the female, when danger, in the shape of 

 prowling beasts, threatens her eggs or young, 

 simulates lameness. So soon as the enemy 

 approaches near enough to be dangerous, up 

 she gets with a great noise of wings, and then 

 flutters along the ground as though wounded. 

 The would-be captor is thus led far from the 

 jealously guarded treasures, and when a safe 

 distance has been covered an end is speedily 

 put to this will-o'-the-wisp chase by the bird 

 suddenly taking wing. 



PARTRIDGES, QUAILS, AND PHEASANTS 



The birds which come under this head 

 are so many in number they may be reckoned 

 by the hundred, and include several forms 

 of exquisite beauty. The legs of many are 

 armed with formidable spurs, with which the 

 males, who are exceedingly pugnacious, fight 

 furiously with their rivals for the possession 

 of some coveted female. 



Of the more conspicuous forms we may 

 mention the RED-LEGGED and COMMON 

 PARTRIDGES. In England the former is knotfn 

 more generally as the FRENCH PARTRII ><;[: 

 why, it is hard to say. It is a native of 

 South-eastern Europe, whence it was intro- 

 duced towards the end of the eighteenth 

 century. It is a handsome bird, but not in 

 high favour with sportsmen, since it prefers 

 to escape by running rather than by flight. 



