THE HORNED TRAGOPAN 
Ceriornis satyra. 
Plate XXXIX. 
The Tragopans certainly stand pre-eminent amongst the magnificent Game-birds of the Himalayas, and no 
species amongst them would be more worthy of the assiduous care and attention which the introduction of a 
new bird to our English preserves Would require. That it would be possible to effect this we see no reason to 
disbelieve, although it would, no doubt, necessitate many years of careful breeding and successive supplies of 
fresh blood before perfect success could be expected. But the object would surely he well worthy of the cost 
and trouble it would occasion, especially when we consider the sums lavished by English preservers of game 
upon the maintenance of their stocks of the Common Pheasant, and the superiority of the present bird both 
in size and beauty, when compared with our well-known species. 
The Horned Tragopan is an inhabitant of the eastern portion of the great Himalayan chain, being 
replaced in the western Himalayas by an allied species—the Black-headed Tragopan (Ceriornis melanocephala). 
The present bird is found in Nepal and Sikim, inhabiting the dense woods and jungles of the higher and 
middle ranges. It is usually met with in small companies, which on being approached run with great 
rapidity, and attempt to escape the sportsman rather in this manner than by flight. 
In his recently-published work on the Birds of India, Ur. Jerdon gives us the following particulars of the 
habits of this species:—“It appears to be very abundant in Nepal, and is not rare at Sikim at considerable 
elevations. I have seen it at an altitude of about 9000 feet in spring. In winter it descends to between 
7000 and 8000 feet in the vicinity of Darjeeling, and perhaps lower in the interior. It is frequently snared by 
the Bhoteeas and other Hill-men, and brought alive for sale to Darjeeling. Its call, which I have heard in 
spring, is a low, deep, bellowing cry, sounding like tma-ung-icaa-ung.” 
Although single examples of two other species of this genus had been at different times in the Society’s 
Aviaries, the first instance of the successful importation of pairs of this magnificent group of birds 
occurred in March, 1863. On the last day of that month a fine collection of Indian Game-birds—partly 
presented to the Society by the Babu Rajendra Mullick, of Calcutta, and partly belonging to Mr. John J. 
Stone, F.Z.S., and the Rev. W. Smythe—arrived in the Gardens by the overland Mail from India. Among them 
were six males and three females of the present species of Tragopan. This bird, contrary to our expectations, 
seemed to adapt itself very readily to the somewhat different state of circumstances under which it was situated 
in the Society’s Gardens, as contrasted with its native hills. When placed in a compartment of an Aviary 
recently constructed for the reception of the hardier kinds of Gallinace®, the sexes paired at once, and 
commenced breeding shortly after their importation. Thirteen young birds were hatched in June and July, 
1863, and seven of these were successfully reared. In the following year, likewise, six birds of these species 
were bred in the Gardens. So far, therefore, there seemed to be every prospect of the successful 
“ acclimatization ” of this new and brilliant addition to the Society’s stock of Game-birds, though these 
expectations have been since unhappily frustrated by the recent death of nearly all the parent stock. 
