CHAPTER III. 



Tragopans, Monauls, Etc. 



We now come to the large and often long-tailed 

 game birds, commonly known as pheasants, to 

 which may be referred eleven genera, containing 

 more than a score of species between them. To 

 distinguish the cocks is quite easy, but the hens, 

 being dull-coloured, are less readily recognised, 

 though anyone who will observe carefully enough 

 will be able to refer any hen pheasant to her proper 

 gioup also, as there are always some points she 

 shares with her mate. 



In three genera the tail is short in both sexes, 

 not being longer than the wing even in the cocks, 

 and being shorter in the hens. In this respect they 

 approach the partridges, but they are never less 

 than about eighteen inches long, which is much 

 bigger than any partridge except the great Ram- 

 chukors or snow-cocks. And in these there is a 

 difference of three inches between the length of 

 the wing and tail ; whereas in these short-tailed 

 pheasants the wing never exceeds the tail by so 

 much as this. 



These genera are the Tragopans, Monauls, and 

 Blood-Pheasants, which are easily distinguished 

 from any others of the family. 



The Blood-Pheasant is only about eighteen inches 

 long, with very long, soft plumage and bright red 

 legs. 



