504 WATER-PHEASANTS. 
The largest member of the family is the beautiful water-pheasant 
(Hydrophasianus 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 
Water-Pheasant. 




































































































































































































































































BRAZILIAN JACANA (4 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 CHIONIDIDZ and THINOCORID. 
In this place brief mention may be made of certain birds which appear to con- 
nect tosome extent the members of the preceding families with the gulls. These 
