532 



The Illustrated Booic of Poultry. 



Although so shy when at Hberty, this beautiful bird, as we have said, is capable of domesti- 

 cation. A distinguished writer in The Field under the mm de plume of " Ornithognomon," 

 treating on the game birds of India, observes that he had kept them in captivity, which they bore 

 tolerably well, but never became thoroughly tame ; but in the Zoological Society's Gardens, under 

 the care of Mr. Bartlett, domestication has been attended with better success. The first specimens 

 were received in 1857, but both these were males. In 1864 a female was procured, which bred 

 several times ; and it was clearly ascertained, according to Dr. Sclater, that two or three broods in 

 a year are produced, that the number of eggs is two, and that they are about two inches long. It 

 was also found that the young are covered by the long tail of the mother. The first eggs were 

 hatched under a Bantam hen, and the young always kept close behind her, never coming to the front, 

 and being consequently often kicked over. This was not understood until one or two chicks were 

 reared by the natural mother, when it was seen that she kept her ample tail widely spread, so as to 

 completely cover and protect them, and keeping them quite out of sight, except when she called 

 them for food, which they would quickly pick up, and then run back to their shelter. 



We have reason to doubt if two eggs only will be found to be the regular number laid by the 

 Polyplcctron. We have seen already that many wild birds lay much less than the usual number 

 when first domesticated, and probably further experience will give better results, especially if more 

 space can be afforded. By slow degrees, as in the case of the wild turkey, the bird would probably 

 become accustomed to closer confinement. Its exceeding beauty makes the experiment at least 

 worth a systematic trial. 





