INTRODUCTION xxxi 



indicates a lengthening of the distance from the place of origin. In the three sub- 

 families of typical pheasants we find seven genera which are quite northern, practically 

 confined to the Palaearctic region. The remaining ten are found in the Oriental 

 region. It is among these that we find the surest proof of the northern or mountainous 

 origin. The supergenus group, commencing with the rather generalized Gennaeus, 

 frays out southward into more and more specialized forms — Loftkura, Acomus and 

 Lobiophasis. Gallus has the most generalized species, gallus in the north, and the 

 highly modified varius far to the south in Java. The same applies to the Peafowl. In 

 the cases of the Peacock Pheasants and Argus, the least specialized forms, Chalctirus 

 and Rheinardius, are wholly mountain loving, while Polyplectron and Argusianus live 

 nearer sea- level. 



COMPARATIVE ABUNDANCE 



Only in the case of Peafowl in India, in places where the birds are held sacred, and 

 in the rice-field pheasants of isolated parts of China, can any member of the pheasants 

 be said to be really abundant. Enemies are too numerous, and birds of such consider- 

 able size too conspicuous to be able to maintain themselves in great numbers in any 

 locality. Yet in parts of the Himalayas far removed from mankind I have sometimes 

 seen five species and several dozen individuals in the course of a day's tramp. And the 

 sound of a gun would often enable one to locate (vocally and, of course, temporarily) 

 every cock pheasant within earshot. 



The comparative sociability gave me, at certain seasons, fairly accurate data to 

 estimate the pheasant population of circumscribed districts. The Argus seems the most 

 unsociable of all his kindred. For month after month the birds wander through the 

 jungle or keep their dancing grounds in order, associating with none of their kind, 

 perhaps never even seeing another Argus until the breeding season, and then only 

 a solitary rival cock or two to vanquish in combat, or a hen attracted by the loud 

 nocturnal calling. It would seem as if some of the Kaleege must fairly breed in colonies, 

 so fond are they of one another's company. I have seen them day after day feeding, 

 wandering about and roosting in large flocks. The regularity of movement of these 

 flocks makes it an easy matter to form a comparatively accurate census of any single 

 locality. After the breeding season, pheasants in a wild state are quite tolerant of one 

 another, but even when in flocks there seems to be a pretty definite recognition of caste, 

 might always being right. A rough classification of pheasants based on their general 

 sociability results in something like the following table — 



SOLITARY IN PAIRS GREGARIOUS 



Lobiophasis Tragopan Ithagenes 



Chalcurus Gallus Lophophorus 



Polyplectron Pucrasia Crossoptilon 



Rheinardius Catreus Gennaeus 



Argus Syrmaticus Acomus 



Chrysolophus Lophura 



Phasianus 

 Pavo 



This indicates merely that those in the first column are seen more often singly — 

 both males and females — than in company with others of their kind; those in the second 



