5°4 
IVA TEE-PHEASANTS. 
Water-Pheasant. 
The largest member of the family is the beautiful water-pheasant 
(.Hydrophasianus chirurgus) of India and Ceylon, which is the sole 
representative of its genus, and is easily recognised by the elongation of the two 
central tail-feathers, and the pied plumage. These birds, which are abundant on the 
lakes of Kashmir, as well as those of India, usually assume their breeding-plumage 
in May or June ; and they utter a peculiar mewing, or wailing sound, which can be 
BRAZILIAN JACANA (J Hat. size). 
heard for a considerable distance. The nest may be either a floating structure of 
grass and herbage, or fixed among the growing stalks of rice, and in July or 
August receives a clutch of from four to seven bronzy brown or green eggs. 
Sheath-Bills and Seed-Snipe. 
Families CmONIDIDAE and Thinocoridas. 
In this place brief mention may be made of certain birds which appear to con¬ 
nect to some extent the members of the preceding families with the gulls. These 
