THE INTELLECTUAL OBSERVER. SEPTEMBER, 1863. REMARKS UPON THE HORNED TRAGOPANS BY A. D. BARTLETT, Superintendent of the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. (With a Coloured Plate.) Or this fine group of birds there are four well-known species; it may, however, be said that the most beautiful species is the one above named, and the subject of these remarks. This species is found in Nepal, Sikhim, and Bootan, in other words, the Eastern Himalayas, while the next species in point of beauty (Ceriornis Hastingsii) inhabits the Western Himalayas. Both species are indiscriminately called Argus pheasants by Indian sportsmen, which name, however, really belongs to a totally different bird, which is found in Malacca, and certainly has never been met with near the Himalayas. The great difficulty in obtaining and bringing living examples of these birds to Europe has been well-known to all collectors whose previous efforts have failed, and only two recorded instances are known of these birds having reached England alive. Upon the first occasion one male only of Tragopan Temninkii arrived, and upwards of twenty years passed before a second bird of this group made its appearance. In 1857 a female of Ceriornis Hastingsii was brought home by Mr. Thompson, who was sent to India by the Zoological Society to receive and bring home a collection of these and other game birds that had been collected for the society, and also for her Majesty the Queen. Since the above date no others have reached this country until the 31st March in the present year; on that day nine fine and healthy birds arrived these were six males and three females (as before stated of the species know as Ceriornis Satyra). We are indebted to the zeal, ability, and persevering VOL. IV.-NO. II. G energy of Mr. John J. Stone, assisted by the Rev. W. Smyth, and the Baboo Regrendra Mullick, for obtaining and forwarding these birds to England. The trouble and expense attending the importation has hitherto prevented many from making the attempt the above-named gentlemen did not allow these considerations to stand in the way; hence we have for the first time the opportunity of seeing these magnificent birds in all their glory. Notwithstanding the long voyage, the birds had been so well attended, and every care bestowed upon them, that almost as soon as they were liberated from the coops in which they arrived they began to show signs of breeding, and we have now the gratification of being able to say that two small broods have been hatched, and several eggs are now in the process of incubation, showing at least that these birds are easily adapted to their changed condition, and also that they are very likely soon to be acclimatized. It is quite impossible to convey in writing or drawing a very perfect idea of the extraordinary beauty of the living male bird during the short and almost momentary display he makes while courting the female, on account of the vibratory motion of the head and neck, which, of course, render a drawing imperfect, and it is next to impossible to describe these parts and the appearance of the bird in rapid motion. It is therefore necessary, in order to understand it fully, that it must be seen. We have reason to believe that these birds are monogamus, resembling the partridge in this respect; the eggs, however, bear a close resemblance to those of the wood grouse (Capercaillie), and the young birds when newly hatched are not unlike the chicks of that bird. The wings of these chicks are sufficiently developed as soon as they are hatched to enable them to mount to the branches of trees or shrubs, much like the habits of the tree grouse. In size the young Tragopan equals a chick of the largest Cochin China fowl (when first hatched); its colour is rufous brown, slightly mottled on the back, the wings are marked much like the wings of the female gold pheasant. It is impossible to avoid thinking of the large tree grouse (Capercaillie) when examining these birds; the egg and young, as before stated, strongly resemble, and the habits also of the aduit birds, we are told, are very similar; for instance, they frequent the lofty trees in the pine forests in the Himalayan mountains; they are capable of bearing any amount of cold, feed on berries and tender shoots of plants, etc., etc. Their flesh is excellent, therefore this bird appears to be one of the most desirable to introduce, not only on account of its brilliant colour, and its charming markings, but as a great addition to our table luxuries. It is doubtless a very prolific breeder, and in all probability, if |