xlii INTRODUCTION 



tail-feathers, never attempts to squat, and only a closet naturalist, or one who wilfully 

 blinds himself to the evidence not only of his own, but of the bird's judgment, could 

 ever call such a bird protective in any sense. 



HOME LIFE 



As with all birds which live in the northern hemisphere, pheasants nest in the 

 spring of the year. In the Himalayas April, May and June are the usual months. 

 As we go toward the tropics the less distinct demarcation of the seasons leads to a 

 spreading out of the nesting period, and in the Malay States and Borneo this extends 

 over more than half the year. The Javan Junglefowl nests from June to November 

 and the Argus from February to August. In captivity the cock Argus sometimes calls 

 from April to September. A species with an extensive range shows corresponding 

 variation from north to south. Peacock Pheasants in the north breed from March 

 to May, while farther south this extends to June. The Red Junglefowl makes its 

 nest from February to May in the terai, March to June in Burma, and February 

 to late August in the Malay States. 



In brilliancy of colouring and elaborateness of feather ornaments pheasants are 

 equalled by only one other group, the hummingbirds. Whether or not we believe 

 in the theory of sexual selection, there is no disputing the fact that in almost every 

 case the brilliancy is confined to the male, and the ornamental crests, ruffs, wings, 

 trains, and tails serve only the one function of being displayed for a brief period 

 before one or several females. To add to the complexity of the problem I know of 

 not a single instance of a female showing what may be termed pleasure or even 

 interest in the display ! And yet I believe that sexual selection is a very real 

 phenomenon, a very important one in the life of these and other birds. 



The detailed discussion of this subject in the monographs of several of the 

 species must suffice, except for a brief resume. The method of display of the cocks 

 is of considerable interest. This courtship display may be divided into lateral and 

 frontal, and in this category the genera appear as follows — 



LATERAL FRONTAL 



Crossoptilon Lophophorus 



Genitaeus Chalcurus 



Acomus "■ Polyplectron 



Lophura Rheinardius 



Lobiophasis Argusianus 



Callus Pavo 



Chrysolophus 



Pucrasia 



Catreus 



Phasianus 



Syrmaticiis 



In the first division we find all the related groups with compressed, curved 

 tails together with those whose tails are long, slender and straight. In the second 

 line we again find the familiar association of the subfamilies Argusianinae and 

 Pavoninae and the isolated group of Impeyans. This classification is of use in 

 giving us a hint of the most specialized genera. There is no doubt that the 



