TiMPEYAN Pheasant. 



17 



Although not (juite so uniform in structure as the 

 Tragopans, which practically only differ in colour and, 

 to a much less extent, in size, the Monauls form a very 

 uniform and easily recognisable type. Only four 

 species are known, and only one of these is at all 

 familiar in captivity. 



The Common Monaul, oe Impeyan Pheasant. 



(Lophophorus refulgms. ) 



The Monaul is a heavily-formed bird, equal to a large 

 Owl in size. The head and hill are large for a bird of 

 this family, especially the latter ; there is a bare space 

 round the eye of a bright blue colour; the legs are 

 short and powerful, of an olive-green or " willow' tint ; 

 and the tail is like that of a pigeon, only moderately 

 long, flat, and slightly rounded at the end. The 

 plumage is close and hard, and differs much in the two 

 sexes, although they agree in most points of form, and 

 do not differ much in size. The male possesses a pair of 

 short spurs, while the hen is, as usual, spurless ; he also 

 has a gracefully arched crest of very narrow feathers 

 broadening out at the tip, while the hen's crest is short 

 and composed of ordinary feathers. 



The'resplendent beauty of the cock's plumage almost 

 baffles description. His head and a streak down each 

 side of the neck are bright, burnished gi-een ; the 

 back of the neck fiery copper-red of a wonderful lustre, 

 changing into pale greenish gold in some lights ; the 

 upper part of the back is golden green ; the rest of the 

 upper plumage metallic purple, the feathers tipped with 

 metallic blue. On the lower part of the back, however, 

 there is a patch of silver white, but this is usually 

 hidden by the wings. The lower plumage from throat 

 to tail is velvet black, and the taU bright cinnamon, 

 contrasting strikingly with the metallic hues of the rest 

 of the plumage. 



The hen's plumage is a close mottling of brown, 



black, and buff, set off by a pure white throat ; alto- 

 gether, she -looks like a very big Quail or Partridge. 



Her characteristic form and the Hue skin round the 



eye at once mark her off distinctly from the hens of 



other Pheasants. 

 Young cock Monauls are veiy like hens at first, but 



the white throat is more or less mixed -with black. 



They do not come into full colour till the second year ; 



and even tlien, curiously 



enough, the seventh flight 



feather remains brown a year 



longer. 



This bird inhabits the 



whole of the Himalayas, 



keeping to high elevations 



and a temperate or cold 



climate. In summer it ranges 



even above the forest level 



and near the snow line ; but 



in winter it has, of course, to 



descend lower in search of 



food. This consists largely 



of roots and insects, for which 



it is continually digging 



with its powerful bill; for, 



unlike other Pheasants, it is 



not addicted to scratching. 



It is not very sociable, 



though the hens keep to- 

 ■ gether more than the cocks. 



They lay in May or June, 



and the eggs are rather like 



a Turkey's. The species is 



sadly persecuted on account 



of the demand for the gor- 

 geous plumage of the males, 



and its numbers have become 



greatly diminished in con- 

 sequence. This is the more 



regrettable as it is quite 



upnecessary. As everyone 



knows, the surplus males in this polygamous family can 

 be killed down with no bad effects on the stock ; but 

 the greedy hunter snares all alike, using the hens for 

 food. 



Fortunately, the Monaul has been largely exported to 

 Europe, and although at first some difficulty was expe- 

 rienced in rearing it in captivity, this has been got over, 

 and it is now largely bred, at any rate on the Con- 

 tinent. The bird, indeed, possesses a peculiarly tame- 

 able disposition ; even in a cage it is much steadier than 

 most Pheasants, and Mr. Tegetmeier informs us that he 

 has seen Monauls at the residence of his friend, Mr. 

 J. J. Stone, in the Welsh hills, enjoying full libeity, 

 and as tame as the other poultry. This is the more 

 remarkable, as the Monaul in its wild state is particu- 

 larly strong on the wing and given to taking long flights. 

 The cock often sails on expanded wings, offering a 

 maguifioent spectacle. 



In the treatment of the Monaul in captivity regard 

 must be had to its habit of digging, which speedily ren- 

 ders its enclosure rough and unsightly ; and particular 

 care should be taken to have the pen welj drained in 

 consequence. The birds should, of course, he allowed to 

 exercise their natural propensity ; and hence, in con- 

 sideration of (theii- quiet habits, it will be found as well 

 to clip their wings or pinion them, and. give them as 

 large a run as possible instead of confining them in an 

 aviary. Turned loose in a garden after the crops were 



/•- 



Impeyan Pheasants. 



