84 PHASIASID^. 



Habits, cj-c. The Cheer is found chiefly at elevations of about 

 GOOO to 7000 feet on precipitous wooded hill-sides, but is 

 capriciously and locally distributed. It generally, except in the 

 breeding-season, associates in small parties and its presence is 

 usually betrayed by the loud crowing of both sexes morning and 

 evening, and sometimes during tue day. The crow is loud and 

 peculiar, and is said by " Mountaineer" (Mr. F. "Wilson), in whose 

 admirable accounts the habits of this and several other Himalayan 

 Pheasants are fully described, to sound like chir-a-pir, chir-a-pir, 

 chir, chir, chirwa, chirwa, but mifch varied. This Pheasant feeds 

 on roots, which it digs up, grubs, insects, seeds, berries. &c., but is 

 far inferior to the Koklas as food. It breeds from April to June, 

 laying in a hollow scratched in the ground 9 to 14 pale stone- 

 coloured eggs, almost devoid of markings, or slightly speckled, 

 and measuring about 2-13 by 1-5. There is no nest. 



Genus PUCRASIA, G. E. Gray, 1841. 



This genus of Pheasants, of which the Himalayan Pukras or 

 Koklas is the type, is readily distinguished by having the upper 

 tail-coverts nearly as long as the tail, and the sides of the head 

 feathered. The tail, equal to the wing in length in the female, 

 and a little longer in the male, consists of 16 feathers, and is 

 wedge-shaped, the middle pair of rectrices being twice the length 

 of the outer pair. The male has an elongate occipital crest, con- 

 sisting of a median anterior tuft, differing in colour from the very 

 elongate lateral posterior tufts ; the crest in the female is short. 

 The wings are much rounded. Tarsus about equal to the middle 

 toe and claw in the female, longer and armed with a spur in 

 males. 



Pucrasia ranges from Nepal to Afghanistan, and two species are 

 found in China, but none in the Eastern Himalayas. The birds 

 found within Indian limits appear to be varieties of one specific 

 form. 



1384. Pucrasia macrolopha. The Koldas or Pukras Pheasant. 



Satyra macrolopha, Less. Diet. Sci. Nat. lix, p. 196 (1829). 



Phasianus pucrasia, Gray, in Hardw. 111. 2nd. Zool. i, pi. 40 (1830-32). 



Tra^opan pucrasia, Temm. PI. Col. text to pi. 545 ; Blyth, Ibis, 18(35, 

 p. 28, note. 



Pucrasia macrolopha, Gray, Gen. B. iii, p. 503 ; Hutton, J. A. S. B. 

 xvii, pt. 2, p. (594; Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 500; ]859, p. 186 ; 

 Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 524; Blyth, Ibis, 1*67, p. 152; Stoliczka, 

 J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. 2, p. 68 ; Hume, fy Marsh. Game B. \, 

 p. 159, pi. ; Hume, Cat. no. 808 ; C. H. T. Marsh. Ibis, 1884, 

 p. 422 ; Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 411 : Ogilvie Grant, 

 Cat. B. M. xxii, p. 311. 



Phasianus macrolopha, Blyth, Cat. p. 245. 



Pucrasia nipalensis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. ]00; Hume, S. F. vii, 

 p. 428; Hume 8f Marsh. Game B. i, p. 165, pi. ; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 808 ter ; Scully, S. F. viii, p. 343. 



Pucrasia duvauceli,' Bonap. C. R. xlii ; p. 879 (1856); Elliot, Mon. 



