140 THE INDIAN CRIMSON TRAGOPAN. 



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 walk- 

 ing 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 down- 

 wards, 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 mo- 

 ments." 



In the cold weather they descend much lower, and are then 

 much tamer, and, as Captain Beavan tells us, readily snared. 

 Writing of Sikhim, he says : — 



" 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 three feet high, extend- 

 ing 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 from and parallel to the base of the 

 triangle and towards its apex ; 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." 



Some of Colonel Tickell's reminiscences of this species are 

 well worth reproduction. He says : — 



" In 1842, when I was at Darjeeling, the Crimson Tragopan 

 was to be met with between Pacheem and the Sungphul 

 Mountain, along the road from Kutshing to the Sanitarium ; 

 and a clever snap shot might bag one or two in the early part 

 of the winter, during a foggy mizzly morning. It was neces- 

 sary to proceed rapidly and noiselessly along the road, peeping 

 warily down each watercourse that crosses the path, and shoots 

 into the valley below. These gullies are shut in with the dense 



