PHEASANTS 99 



ornamental plumage developments, even the tail being short 

 and rounded. The face is bare and highly colored in the 

 males of most of the species, and all have fleshy horns and 

 a brilliant dewlap, which are exposed only during display 

 before the female. The general color of the males is red or 

 brown, interspersed with spots and mottlings of various 

 shades, and reticulated with black. The females are all 

 very much alike and difficult to distinguish. 



There are five species of Tragopans, three of which are 

 not uncommon in captivity, although the price asked is al- 

 ways high. These are Cabot, Temminck, and Satyr or 

 Crimson, relatively abundant in the order named. Blyth's 

 and Black-headed Tragopans are seen very rarely, the latter 

 never having been brought alive to America. 



All of these birds live well in confinement, requiring no 

 artificial heat. They are largely fruit- and plant-eaters, and 

 their diet in captivity should include soft fruits and berries, 

 plenty of green food and occasional meals of boiled rice. 

 They also differ from other pheasants in their selection of a 

 site for the nest, which usually is built upon a deserted 

 bird's nest, at some distance from the ground. 



The male Impeyan Pheasant (Lophophorus impe- 

 yanus) is among the most wonderfully colored of living 

 birds. The surface of the upper body feathers is provided 

 with microscopical prisms, which reflect the light in a flood 

 of iridescence that is difficult to describe. The head and 

 spatulate crest are green, the neck bronze and the rest of 

 the upper surface purple, with the exception of a white 

 patch on the lower back, hidden by the folded wings. All 

 of these colors have the brilliance of molten metal, scin- 

 tillating with every movement of the bird. The hen is 

 clothed modestly in mottled brown and black. 



Impeyans are hardy birds and easily catered for, but 

 although generally to be obtained they are always expen- 



