54 



WA TER-PHEASANTS. 



The largest member of the family is the beautiful water-pheasant 

 ' (ffydrophasianus chirurgus) of India and Ceylon, which is the sole 

 representative of its genus, and is easily recognised by the elongation of the two 

 central tail-feathers, and the pied plumage. These birds, which are abundant on the 

 lakes of Kashmir, as well as those of India, usually assume their breeding-plumage 

 in May or June ; and they utter a peculiar mewing, or wailing sound, which can be 



BRAZILIAN JACANA (f nat - size )- 



heard for a considerable distance. The nest may be either a floating structure of 

 grass and herbage, or fixed among the growing stalks of rice, and in July or 

 August receives a clutch of from four to seven bronzy brown or green eggs. 



SHEATH-BILLS AND SEED-SNIPE. 

 Families CniONIDlD^ and 



In this place brief mention may be made of certain birds which appear to con- 

 nect to some extent the members of the preceding families with the gulls. These 



