578 Tjie Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



at least, Dr. Jerdon reports that it is readily domesticated in India, and that no difficulty is found 

 in rearing the young. The plumage of the Horned Pheasants is beautifully variegated with large 

 spots, of various colours, but chiefly white shaded by rims of black, red, or brown. Many of these 

 spots are so beautiful as to give the bird almost an ocellatcd character. 



The plumage of the male Impcyan Pheasant is the most resplendent and glossy it is possible 

 to imagine, shining with blue, green, purple, and gold, except the saddle, which is a peculiar glossy 

 white. The head is crested and the legs are spurred. It generally roosts in the trees, but it is 

 worthy of note that in summer it is often known to sleep on the ground, which is all in favour 

 of the success of artificial treatment. It is also remarkable that the males do not seem to pair, 

 which is another condition most favourable to the fancier. 



THE CROWNED PIGEONS may be thought to have little to do with a work on poultry. 

 Strictly speaking, perhaps they have not, but for all practical purposes they have, being fully as 

 large as domestic fowls, and being kept in poultry-yards pretty largely in the East Indies, where 

 they are much valued for the delicacy of their flesh. The variety commonly known as the Crowned 

 Pigeon {Gonra coronatd) measures no less than twenty-eight inches from the head to the tip of the 

 tail, and the Victoria Crowned Pigeon (G. Victoria) is even larger. Both varieties inhabit the 

 islands of the Indian Archipelago, but particularly New Guinea. They speedily become tame in 

 confinement, and breed readily ; though so far as experience has yet gone, the female only lays one 

 egg at a time, instead of the pair laid by most of the Coluniba. The flesh is most white and 

 delicate, and the appearance of the birds very handsome, as they stalk about with a stately and 

 majestic air which seems peculiar to all crested birds, and bears a curious analogy to the notion 

 most children cherish, of little kings and queens being born and growing up with their crowns on. 



The Wonga-Wonga Pigeon, an Australian bird, might perhaps also repay effort in the same 

 direction, being large in body, and the flesh most exquisite in delicacy and flavour. It is, however, 

 a shy breeder in confinement so far, but, as Dr. Sclater remarks, " might perhaps do better in a 

 more retired situation. It would be well worthy to have some pains bestowed upon it, as it is not 

 only of considerable size, but, according to Mr. Gould's observation, a first-rate bird for the table, 

 possessing a whiteness and delicacy of texture in its pectoral muscles which are unapproached by 

 any other species of this widely-spread and useful family." 



■THE PRAIRIE HEN, or Pinnated Grouse, of North America, is a very prett}' and quaint- 

 looking bird, measuring about eighteen inches from the head to the tip of the tail. It is 

 distinguished by two long tufts of feathers that hang down on each side of the neck, covering bare 

 patches of skin, which are the outside surfaces of two bladders or cavities connected with the 

 windpipe, and capable of inflation. The prevailing colour of the plumage is black, grey, or greyish 

 brown, banded with red and white, and the parts of the leg not feathered, yellow. Formerly these 

 birds were so plentiful that no one cared to shoot them ; but they are rapidly becoming more and 

 more rare, until they are now highly prized as a delicacy where once contemptuously rejected. 



The Prairie Hen is more confined to the ground than any others of the genus, and generally 

 roosts at night on a slight knoll. The gait much resembles that of the ordinary fowl, and so 

 does the ordinary voice ; but during the breeding season the male utters a very peculiar call. This 

 is produced by inflating the bladders already described, which are then the size of an orange, a's^er 

 which he lowers his head, and expels the air in rolling notes, somewhat like those of a murfled 

 drum. When empty the bird raises his head, refills the cavities, and repeats the performance. 

 Audubon proved the truth of this hypothesis as to the production of the notes, by catching a 



