732 DR. J. MURIK ON THE HORNED TRAGOPAN. [June 18, 



seen at the angle, but anteriorly is partly hidden by the short black 

 feathers. 



Beneath and between the mandibular rami the skin is very loose, 

 baggy, and easily moved. The numerous cutaneous Colds are chiefly 

 longitudinal ; but the general appearance is a sort of wrinkled pucker- 

 ing. The brilliant smalt-blue at this spot is modified by the short 

 black feathers, which latter are pretty freely distributed. In this 

 the contracted state an elevated mesial linear and laterally compressed 

 ridge is very noticeable posteriorly. This hangs as a sort of free 

 lappet, and is of a most brilliant shade of blue. On either side of 

 this central lappet the rich blue skin of the gular region ends in four 

 or five long sharp-pointed digital lines ; these increase in length from 

 within outwards. The outside one of all is very broad and remark- 

 ably finger-shaped. Its minor posterior free extremity bends towards 

 the median lappet, which, indeed, it joins by a transverse semilunar 

 narrow ridge, behind which the feathering commences. The intervals 

 between the digitations are bare, pale, and flesh-coloured, but at cer- 

 tain seasons assume a bright red hue. 



The pair of loose dependent folds or flaps, which in reality con- 

 stitute the single dilatable wattle, in ordinary conditions are drawn to- 

 wards each other, so that the bare blue-coloured skin is in a great 

 measure hidden. In the pride of lust, however, these flaps increase 

 in size, open out or dilate, and there is displayed a gorgeous blue and 

 red gular region and wattles. 



3. Cranial Dissection of a Male in Season. 



The body of the above having been disposed of for the purpose of 

 being stuffed, J had to postpone further anatomical investigation. 

 But another specimen at a later period yielded me a dissection of the 

 parts. This Tragopan was in splendid order, and his wattles and 

 horns most ample, he having been accidentally killed by concussion 

 against the enclosure through fright in the pairing-season ; for Mr. 

 Bartlett believes these birds monogamous*. Circumstances did not 

 permit my injecting the head and making a preparation, which I 

 could have wished to have done. But to improve by the occasion I 

 made dissections, the result of which I proceed to describe. The 

 sketches supply deficiencies in the foregoing account, and show the 

 respective areas of blue and red, with horns and wattles of full 

 dimensions. 



The blue colour, it is to be observed, is permanent, and not due to 

 temporary venous turgescence, while the gorgeous scarlet is evanes- 

 cent, and the result of flow of blood to the parts. I accentuate these 

 facts, because I myself at first mistook the import of the difference 

 of hue. Until instituting a thorough examination I regarded the 

 horns as vasculo-erectile organs, which I am now prepared to show 

 is not the case. 



The whole of the area on the cheeks, supraorbital parts, horns, 

 gular region, cross lines, and border of the wattle, which is coloured 

 blue, is simply a tinted pellicle of the dermal covering. By ordinary 

 * See remarks, p. 70, in paper already quoted. 



