; MONALS. , 4^9 



white spot, partially or entirely margined with black ; the outer wing-coverts being 

 edged on each side with dark orange-carmine. The throat- wattle is salmon-colour 

 with transverse blue bars, and the legs are pale flesh. The general colour of the 

 female is black above, mottled and spotted with various shades of buff', the chin 

 and throat being whitish, and the under-parts sandy finely marked with black and 

 pale buff* or whitish shaft-spots. These birds, writes Mr. Hume, in summer " are 

 to be found at elevations of from eight thousand to ten thousand feet, always in 

 thick cover, by preference in patches of the slender reed-like ringal bamboo, in the 

 neighbourhood of water. Although always on hills near to, or bordering on the 

 snow, they are never seen amongst it, and seem to shun it as much as the blood- 

 pheasant delights in it." Beavan remarks that " the winter months, when the under- 

 wood is not so dense as at other seasons, are the only period of the year at which 

 even natives can get at them. The usual plan of capture is by making a hedge of 

 bushes about three feet high, extending down the sides of a hill like the sides of a 

 triangle with the base open. The sides are made to gradually converge until near 

 the apex, where small gaps are left, in each of which a noose is placed. The birds 

 are then slowly driven by men on foot walking in line. ... A curious fact with 

 regard to this mode of capture is, that the proportion of males to females is 

 generally four or five of the former to pne of the latter." The nuptial dances of 

 this bird are described by Bartlett, who writes that the " males can only be seen to 

 advantage in the early morning and in the evening, as they conceal themselves 

 during the day ; the females, however, are less retiring in their habits. When the 

 male is not excited, the horns lie concealed under two triangular patches of red 

 feathers, their points meeting on the occiput ; the large wattle is also concealed or 

 displayed at the will of the bird. The male has three distinct modes of showing 

 off! After walking about rather excitedly, he places himself in front of the female, 

 with the body slightly crouching upon the legs, and the tail bent downwards ; the 

 head is then violently jerked downwards, and the horns and wattle become con- 

 spicuous. The wings have a flapping motion, and the bright red patch on them is 

 fully displayed. The whole of the neck appears to be larger than usual during 

 this action, so do also the horns, which, moreover, vibrate with every motion. 

 This scene is concluded by the bird suddenly drawing himself up to his full height, 

 with his wings expanded and quivering, the horns erect, and the wattle fully 

 displayed. The second mode consists of simply erecting all his feathers, and 

 elevating one shoulder, thereby exposing a greater surface to view, without, how- 

 ever, showing his head-dress. The third mode is by simply standing boldly erect 

 on an elevated perch, giving the head one or two sudden shakes, and causing the 

 horns and wattle to appear for a few moments." 



Quite unsurpassed among the pheasant tribe for splendour of 

 plumage, the four species of monal are characterised by the males 

 having most of the upper-parts glittering with metallic colours, and the head, 

 except in Sclater's monal {Lophophorus sclateri), adorned with an elongate crest 

 of racquet-shaped plumes. In place of the crest in the latter species, the crown is 

 covered with beautifully curled feathers. The haunts of these birds are practically 

 the same as those of the tragopans, that is to say, the highest forest-regions of the 

 Himalaya and other Asiatic mountains, vegetation and considerable altitude 



