on trees except when disturbed by a dog ; on hearing a human footstep they invariably run, if they can ; and 

 it is anything but an easy matter in Sikhim to get a fair shot at these or any other game-birds that 

 inhabit that country. When they do rise, they always fly down the side of the mountain ; and the momentary 

 glimpse one gets of a scarlet object between the trees, flying very rapidly, is, to a man who perhaps for 

 some hours previously has been toiling on hands and knees, and creeping through prickly bushes as silently 

 as possible, anything but satisfactory. Shooting under such difficulties is therefore but little practised by 

 Europeans ; those who want skins of birds, or game for the table, generally hire a native, either a Lepcha 

 or Nepaul man, who, by lying close near the known haunts of the birds, and imitating their call, draws them 

 within shot. The winter months, when the underwood is not so dense as at other seasons, are the only 

 period of the year at which even the natives can get at them. The usual plan of capture is by making a 

 hedge of bushes about 3 feet high, extending down the sides of a hill, like the sides of a triangle with the 

 base open. The sides are made to gradually converge until near the apex, where small gaps are left, in 

 each of which a noose is placed. The birds are then slowly driven by men on foot, walking in line, towards 

 the base of operations, if I may so call it ; and the birds, continuing to run instead of resorting to flight, 

 dash through the openings and are caught in the nooses. A curious fact with regard to this mode of 

 capture is, that the proportion of males to females is generally four or five of the former to one of the latter. 

 The birds brought into Darjeeling for sale are usually sold for about four shillings each, if it happens to be 

 a dry season, but generally more. I have seen them sold at two shillings each. Early morning or the 

 evening are the best times to go after them ; and the former is preferred by the natives. They are then 

 heard calling on all sides, and, by dint of severe crawling and creeping, one has the chance of a shot, which 

 as likely as not will be at the bird running ; and the sportsman must avail himself of the very first glimpse 

 of the bird to fire, or he will not be likely to see it a second time." 



" It is quite impossible," says Mr. Bartlett, " to convey in writing or by a drawing the extraordinary 

 beauty of the living male bird while courting the female ; no language can accurately describe it ; and 

 the vibratory motion of the head and neck renders a drawing out of the question. It must be seen to be 

 understood." Mr. T. W. Wood, in some notes communicated to Mr. Bartlett, gives the following account 

 of the birds as seen by him in the Zoological Society's Gardens : — " The males can only be seen to 

 advantage in the early morning and in the evening, as they conceal themselves during the day; the females, 

 however, are less retiring in their habits. When the male is not excited, the horns lie concealed under two 

 triangular patches of red feathers, their points meeting at the occiput ; the large wattle is also concealed or 

 displayed at the will of the bird. The male has three distinct modes of ' showing off,' if I may be 

 allowed the expression. After walking about rather excitedly, he places himself in front of the female with 

 the body slightly crouching upon the legs, and the tail bent downwards ; the head is then violently jerked 

 downwards, and the horns and wattle become conspicuous ; the wings have a flapping motion, and the 

 bright red patch on them is fully displayed. The whole of the neck appears to be larger than usual during 

 this action, as do also the horns, which, moreover, vibrate with every movement. This scene is concluded 

 by the bird suddenly drawing himself up to his full height, with his wings expanded and quivering, the horns 

 erect, and the wattle fully displayed. The second mode consists of simply erecting all his feathers and 

 elevating one shoulder, thereby exposing a greater surface to view, without, however, showing his head- 

 dress. The third mode is by simply standing boldly erect on an elevated perch, giving the head one or 

 two sudden shakes, and causing the horns and wattle to appear for a few moments." 



As any description, however accurate, must fail to convey a just notion of the colouring of this fine 

 bird, I shall content myself with referring my readers to the accompanying plate, in which it is correctly 

 depicted. The female represented in the upper figure differs greatly from the male, being of a sombre 

 brown mottled with a darker tint, and with a few faint white lines on the upper part of the back and wing- 

 coverts ; primaries chestnut, banded with dark brown ; chin whitish ; under surface ornamented with white 

 lines which increase in size from the breast to the vent. 



The young males resemble the females, and when assuming the plumage of maturity are spotted with red 

 on the neck, wings, and under surface. 



" The eggs " are described by Mr. Sclater to be of a " creamy white, minutely freckled and blotched with 

 two shades of pinkish grey, and measure 2*45 by 1*8 inch." Mr. Bartlett states that the young birds, when 

 nearly hatched, are not unlike the chicks of the Woodgrouse (Capercaillie), and that their wings are then 

 sufficiently developed to enable them to mount the branches of trees or shrubs. 



The Plate represents an adult male, about two-thirds of the natural size, and contains a reduced figure 

 of the same sex displaying the horns and wattle, and a still further reduced female. 



