on the Display op the Salyra Tragopan Pheasant. 155


display of the cock bird may cause the female to exercise “ an

unconscious choice.”


As illustrating the coyness and reluctance of the female

bird, the female Cuckoo is quoted as giving an alluring laugh

that excites her mate to the utmost, when she dashes away

through the tree tops inciting him to follow; also the female

Kingfisher and the Bower Bird are mentioned as examples of

female birds proceeding on similar lines. Granted that this is

so in most cases, is it not strange that when the display of the

cock has been developed to an extraordinary degree the hen

should appear quite unmoved. The matter may be quite plain

to the scientists, but for my part “ I have come out by the same

door I went in.”


If it be argued that the hen Tragopan is really affected by

the marvellous display of the cock and that she has methods of

showing her feelings unknown to us, it certainly seems very

curious that her emotion or interest under all, or almost all,

other circumstances can be readily seen. If my hen Tragopan

is angry at a Tree Partridge coming to feed too near her ; if she

is excited at roosting time or previous to laying, or if she is

pleased with sunshine or fresh cabbage, or depressed by sleet

and wet snow, it is quite easy to tell her state of mind by obser¬

vation, wdiereas during and after the marvellous display of the

cock she will stroll about apparently taking not the slightest

notice, and often turn her back on him and go slowly away,

wandering about just as she often does when he is nowhere near.


The same thing may be doubtless observed to a certain

extent with other kinds of Pheasants, but my point is the curious

fact that where the display of the cock is greatest the apparent

indifference of the hen should be absolute. Of course, it is

alw r ays unsafe to judge from a limited personal experience and

observation, and I for one should be much interested to learn

wdiat other members of the Society who have kept Tragopans

have to say on the point.


I do not for a moment think that any member of the

Society will be found to say that the frontal display of the Satyra

Tragopan is anything else than an extraordinary display of great

interest.



