PLATE VIII 



TRAGOPAN PLUMAGES 

 Tragopan satyra Linnaeus) 



Tragopans, unlike Blood Partridges, do not acquire the adult plumage in the Jirst year of their life. 



Figure i. The chick in the down plumage has a rich rufous head, the body being dark rufous above 

 and pale yellow buff below. The wing feathers are well developed and the chick is able to fly a day 

 or two after it leaves the egg. 



Figure 2. A bird six weeks old has assumed full juvenile plumage, typical in pattern ; a warm buffy 

 background mottled and barred with black, with a conspicuous terminal, paddle-shaped shaft-stripe. 



Figure 3. Birds in the first year plumage are quite uniform as to body, but if the moult lias been 

 late the head and neck will correspondingly be more adult in colour and pattern, as in the bird figured. 

 Even a few days will make considerable difference in the pigment deposited, so that cocks of this age 

 show a remarkable amount of variation. 



