2бо BIRDS OF ALA-SHAN MOUNTAINS. 



The most remarkable of the native birds of the 

 Ala-shan mountains is the long-eared pheasant {Cross- 

 optilon aitriiwn), called by the Mongols kara-takia, 

 i.e. black hen. It belongs to a peculiar species, dis- 

 tinguished from other pheasants by a bunch of long 

 feathers in the back of the head, like the ears of an 

 owl ; the kara-takia is much larger than the common 

 pheasant, has strong legs, and a large roof-shaped 

 tail, the four central feathers of which are long and 

 pennated. The general colour of the plumage is 

 leaden blue ; the feathers of the tail are white near 

 the root, turning to steel colour at the ends. The 

 long ear feathers and throat are white ; the bare skin 

 on the cheeks and the legs red. The plumage of 

 the hen bird is exactly similar to that of the male. 

 The long-eared pheasants keep in small coveys in 

 autumn, of about four to ten birds in each, in 

 coniferous and deciduous forests. The Mongols 

 said that formerly there were many more of these 

 birds in the Ala-shan mountains ; but in the snowy 

 winter of 1869-70 a large number died from star- 

 vation and cold ; however, the kara-takia are still 

 sufficiently numerous. 



We also saw the vulture ( ViiltiLr monachus)^ the 

 lammergeier {Gypactos barbahis), the wall-creeper 

 { TicJiodroma mitrarid), the Siberian tit [Pcecile cinda), |! 

 the nut-hatch [Sida villosa), the greenfinch {Hesperi- 

 phona specnligej'd), Pterorhiims Davidii, jackdaws, :i 

 and two kinds of partridges {Pcrdix barbata and P. j | 

 cJuikor). Of migratory birds in llic end of September l| 

 we only saw the red-throated tln'usli [lltrdiis ri(Jl-\[ 



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