CERIORNIS TEMMINCKII. 



Teniminck's Horned Pheasant. 



Satyra Temminckii, J. E. Gray in Hardw. 111. Ind. Zool., vol. i. pi. 50. — Bonap. Compt. Rend, de l'Acad. Sci.,tom. 



xlii. seance du 12 mai 1856. 

 Tragopan Temminckii, Benn. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part ii., 1834, p. 33. 

 Ceriornis Temminckii, G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 499, Ceriornis sp. 3. — Gray, List of Spec, of Birds in 



Coll. Brit. Mus., part. v. Gallincs, p. 41.— Sclat. h>Proc. of Zool. Soc, 1863, p. 123. 



For our first knowledge of the existence of this Chinese species of Ceriornis we are indebted, as in the case 

 of the Phasianus Reevesii, to the gentleman after whom that bird was named. It is true that it formed one 

 among the many grotesque objects represented in the rice-paper drawings which had for many years been 

 sent to Europe, but which was supposed to be entirely imaginary, until living examples in the celebrated 

 menagerie of the late Mr. Beale, at Macao, attracted the notice of Mr. Reeves, who did not rest until 

 he had sent specimens to the national collection, and made us acquainted with a bird of which we had 

 previously only seen faulty representations. Now (1868) living examples not only grace our menageries, but 

 are breeding as freely as any species of a form differing essentially from every other comprising the 

 avifauna of Europe can be expected to do : it is fortunate that such is the case ; for ornithologists have 

 thereby been enabled to study their varied actions and manners during the exciting period of spring, and 

 to ascertain that they are both curious and interesting. Of the true habitat of this bird, which is probably 

 the most eastern species of the genus, as the C. melanocephalus is the most western, our knowledge is 

 extremely scanty ; for all we know is that it is a native of China, probably the hills in continuation of the 

 great Himalayas. On the southern slopes of these lofty ranges, but at a considerable elevation, all the four 

 known species most likely dwell ; two of them certainly reside there, namely the C. melanocephalus in the 

 north-western provinces of Kumaon, at an elevation of 10,000 feet, and the C. satyra at a similar altitude in 

 Nepaul, Bootan, and Sikhim ; but, as before mentioned, the habitat of the present species is unknown ; and we 

 are equally unacquainted with that of C. Caboti. Besides being indebted to Mr. Reeves for the first intro- 

 duction of C. Temminckii, science is under considerable obligation to Mr. James J. Stone for his perseverance 

 in obtaining many of the living examples now in this country ; and I have, moreover, to thank him for the 

 loan of specimens of both sexes, whereby I am enabled to give a more faithful representation of them than I 

 could otherwise have done. The accuracy of the accompanying plate has, moreover, been greatly aided by 

 Mr. T. W. Wood's sketches of the form and colouring of the wattles of the male during the nuptial season. 

 The displays of this appendage made by the bird at that time are most astonishing, and must be seen to be 

 appreciated : so extraordinary are they, that the keepers in the Zoological Society's Gardens could not help 

 expressing to me their surprise and wonder at its instant prolongation and contraction ; " like a flash of 

 lightning " was the simile of one, " like brilliant fireworks " that of another. These manifestations of excite- 

 ment I have also witnessed myself; and the sudden descent of the immense wattle of blue and red, the dila- 

 tation of the cylindrical pendent horns of verditer green and blue, and the depression of the feathers of the 

 crown, and their lateral expansion over the eyes, afforded me much pleasure and delight. To figure these 

 instantaneous exhibitions is impossible ; and beautiful as the accompanying representation may appear, it 

 falls far short of the original. 



One of the earliest contributors to our knowledge of this bird is Dr. George Bennett, of Sydney, New 

 South Wales, who, when in England in 1834, exhibited, at the meeting of the Zoological Society of London 

 held on the 13th of May, specimens of three kinds of Ceriornes, including the present species, and, in 

 illustration of its history, placed upon the table drawings of specimens observed by him at Macao, showing 

 the remarkable wattle in various stages of expansion, and read the following note on the subject : — 



"In its contracted state the membrane has merely the appearance of a purple skin under the lower 

 mandible ; and is even sometimes so much diminished in size as to be quite invisible. It becomes developed 

 during the early spring months or pairing-season of the year, from January to March, when it is capable of 

 being displayed or contracted at the will of the bird. During excitement it is enlarged, falls over the 

 breast, and exhibits the most brilliant colours, principally of a vivid purple, with bright red and green spots, 

 the colours varying in intensity according to the degree of excitement. When they are most brilliant (that 

 is, when the excitement is great) the purple horns are usually elevated." The living specimens seen by Mr. 

 Bennett were procured from the province of Yunnan, bordering on Thibet. Mr. Beale, in whose aviary at 

 Macao they were, had not succeeded in obtaining females. Its Chinese name is Tu Xou Nieu. 



