62 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



subterminal, round ocelli are as well marked as before, but the irregular mottling and 

 vermiculation of the rest of the feather obscures all patterning and gives to the upper 

 plumage a confused mingling of grey, warm buff and dark tones, the solid black being 

 the only definite markings. On the middle and greater coverts the buff shaft-patch 

 clears up and forms a fairly well-marked character. The new wing and tail feathers 

 are similar to the body plumage in being more mottled and less definitely patterned 

 than the previous plumage. 



The moult of the primaries at this age is nearing its close. All the inner ones have 

 been renewed and are full grown. No. 6 has almost reached its full length ; No. 7 still 

 lacks 25 mm. ; No. 8 is sheathbound throughout its total length of 63 mm. ; while 

 Nos. 9 and 10 are the full-grown, clean juvenile feathers, which because of their delay 

 are to have the honour of remaining unshed throughout the coming year. The rectrices 

 are all in active growth, the outer ones having been last renewed. 



The facial area, skin and throat are now covered with a dense growth of short, 

 dirty-white feathers, those of the former area edged broadly with dark, while those of the 

 chin and throat are plain. On the breast we find the same confusion of pigment and 

 pattern, but on the belly a new pattern appears, the ventral ocelli, like those of the adult 

 female, presaging the pearly ornaments of the adult cock bird. These are roundish 

 central areas of white, showing conspicuously against the surrounding faintly vermicu- 

 lated buff. In the young male the white is bounded distally by an irregular dark band, 

 the remnants of the two dark ocelli of the rest of the plumage. In some individuals the 

 spurs are quite precocious, and in September or October birds they may be considerably 

 elevated above the surrounding tarsal scales. The September bird under consideration 

 measures : bill from nostril, 12 ; wing, 241 ; tail, 157 ; tarsus, 68 ; middle toe and claw, 

 68 mm. 



The two areas of delayed growth in the first winter moult of Tragopans are 

 primaries 9 and 10, and the head and neck. As we have seen, the former are not 

 distinguishable from their newly grown companions, and show no character of the juvenile 

 flights. The effect of the delay of the latter region is to produce conspicuous results. 

 If an individual bird grows rapidly and moults early and clean, we find in the first 

 winter's cock a bird much like the female. But if for any reason the moult be delayed, 

 and the internal maturing processes have a chance to begin their alchemy of pigment- 

 synthesis which will result in the gorgeous and specialized colours of the adult cock bird, 

 the incoming feathers of the head and neck are very different from those of the 

 remaining, earlier-formed first winter's plumage. Thus is explained the great variation 

 in birds of the first year. One finds all sorts of conditions existing in the region of the 

 head and neck. Invariably the body, wings and tail are of the more primitive, female- 

 like type, but joined to these the majority of first year males show heads of more or less 

 dark hue, flanked by collars which range from a faint crimson stain to a brilliant scarlet 

 ruff. Indeed, the stains, and faint, imperfect hints of the adult ornaments may some- 

 times be found over the entire plumage. In a large series of young birds scattered 

 throughout many museums, the individuals are about evenly divided between those 

 which have acquired the strictly conventional first year dress of their mothers, and those 

 which are anteriorly precocious, showing a particoloured garb which is not pleasing, at 

 least to our eyes. Thus is explained why birds of this group are so often shot in 



