1879.] THE FEMALE OF CERIORNIS BLYTHII. 459 



p. 1 72), the true habitat of this species is recorded, viz. the Burrail 

 range, at from 6000 to 10,000 feet. 



The following extracts from a letter written by Lieut. Mac- 

 gregor, of the 44th Sylhet Light Infantry, on the habits of 

 Ceriornis are very interesting ; and I cannot do better than give the 

 observations in his own words : — " This bird inhabits the high ranges 

 of the Naga hills ; it is found at altitudes ranging from 9000 to 

 5000 feet, most frequently on the Burrail range, near Khonomah. 

 The Nagas say that it does not migrate, but in the winter months 

 it descends from the higher ranges down to 5000 feet. This is 

 the season that specimens of the bird are generally obtained. The 

 modus operandi is as follows : — Nooses are placed in the paths 

 that the birds are known to frequent, and a large number of men are 

 employed as beaters : they drive the birds before them slowly and 

 quietly up to the traps (if they made too much noise probably the 

 birds would take to flight). The specimens that I have now in my 

 possession eat worms and a kind of red berry. One that I had last 

 year in the Naga hills used to eat dhan (unhusked rice). Out of 

 three that were brought away from the hills only one arrived alive 

 in Calcutta ; but this was in the hot weather. The young female 

 has a plumage very like that of a hen Floriken (Sypheotides benga- 

 lensis) ; when it gets older it assumes a plumage more like the cock, 

 becoming red on the throat and on the back. The cry of the birds 

 is like the sound 'ank' repeated several times. The Nagas give 

 the bird the name of • Nee.' The Nagas say that the Argus lays 

 three eggs ; but as this was in answer to a leading question, I cannot 

 vouch for it." 



As Polyplectron chinquis and two species of Ceriornis are men- 

 tioned in a paper by Mr. Sclater read before this Society a short time 

 ago, as laying only two eggs, it is very probable that the Naga informa- 

 tion is accurate ; for these people have a wonderful knowledge of all the 

 beasts and birds and of their habits. In such forests, and exposed 

 to so much danger from many formidable enemies, the parent birds 

 can seldom rear more than two at a time : they are driven to roost 

 iu the low trees in comparative safety ; and in such a position the 

 hen could only take one chick under each wing. A greater number 

 of eggs could be only a waste of life, and would, if hatched out, 

 only encumber the mother, and possibly lead to her own destruc- 

 tion ; for it must be remembered that in dense forests, cats and other 

 small predatory mammals have the great advantage of being able to 

 stalk their prey, and approach unseen to within a yard or two. 



