o

without alarming them, only those close being disturbed at each report.

In spring they are more independent of each other’s movements, and though much pilcer are more apt to wait till individually
disturbed. When they alight in the trees and are again flushed, the second flight is always a long one. When repeatedly
disturbed by the sportsman or shikaries, they often take a long flight in the first instance. The ae have great influence
over them in this respect, as well as in their degree of tameness or wildness. In spring, when the snow has melted in almost every
part of the forest, and they have little difficulty in procuring an abundance of food, they appear careless about being driven. from
any particular spot, and often fly a long way ; but in winter, when a sufficiency of food is not easily obtained they seem more intent
on satisfying their hunger, and do not so much heed the appearance of man. ihe females appear at all times much tamer than
the males. The latter have one peculiarity, not common in birds of this order : if intent on making a long flight, an old male after
flying a short way will often cease flapping his wings, and soar along with a trembling vibratory motion at a considerable height in
the air, when, particularly if the sun be shining on his brilliant plumage, he appears to great advantage, and certainly looks one
of the most magnificent of the Pheasant tribe.

‘Tn autumn the Monaul feeds chiefly on a grub or maggot which it finds under the decayed leaves’; at other times on roots,
leaves and young shoots of various shrubs and grasses, acorns and other seeds eae bermes, In winter it often feeds in the wheat
and barley fields, but does not touch the grain; roots and maggots seem to be its sole inducement for digging amongst it. At all

times, and in all seasons, it is very assiduous in the operation of digging, and continues at it for hours together. In the higher
derwood, and early in the morning or towards evening, these may often

the different trees and fired at those I wished to procure

forests, large open plots occur quite free from trees or un
be seen dotted over with Monauls, all busily engaged at their favourite occupation.

«“The Monaul roosts in the larger forest trees, but in summer, when near or above their limits, will often roost on the ground, in
The female makes her nest under a small overhanging bush or tuft of grass, and lays five eggs of a dull

some steep rocky spot. ;
The flesh is considered by some as nearly

white speckled with reddish brown ; the chicks are hatched about the end of May.
equal to turkey, and by others as scarcely eatable. In autumn and winter, many, particularly females and young birds, are excellent,
and scarcely to be surpassed in flavour or delicacy by any of the tribe ; while from the end of winter most are found to be the
reverse. They are easily kept in confinement, and one would imagine might, without much difficulty, be naturalized in Europe.
“The young males for the first year nearly resemble the females, but may easily be distinguished by the white feathers on the chin
ith black ; the vent-feathers are also marked with the same, and the whole plumage has a darker and
rather glossy appearance. When changing their plumage, they appear spotted all over with the brilliant metallic hues, &c. &c. ;

the second year they receive the whole of their splendid colours, with the exception of the seventh long feather of the wing, which

and throat being spotted w

keeps the brown colour for another year.”

It is somewhat singular that this gorgeously plumaged gallinaceous bird should not, like the Common
Pheasant, have long since been naturalized in Europe: Lady Impey endeavoured to introduce living
examples into this country in the latter part of the last century, but unfortunately the attempt was unsuc-
cessful; had it been otherwise, it is highly probable that by this time it might have become an ornament
of our woods and an object of pursuit to the sportsman: what Lady Impey failed to do, has, however, been
accomplished by others; Lord Hardinge, late Governor-General of India, brought many living examples of
both sexes to England, some of which are in the possession of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, and a
pair grace the fine collection of birds at the Zoological Gardens in the Regent’s Park; and at this time,
June 1850, both native- and English-bred individuals may be seen in the aviary of the Earl of Derby at
Knowsley; a circumstance which tends to prove that were its introduction attempted on a large scale, it

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would be successful.

I am indebted to the Earl of Derby for the following interesting account of the success which has
attended the rearing of one or two broods of Monauls in his Lordship’s menagerie, and at the moment of
going to press with this paper, I hear that a batch of young from seven eggs is daily expected.

‘“T fear that on the subject of the Impeyan Pheasants I shall not be able to give you any important intelligence. My first pair
of these birds was purchased in 1846, and just before I visited London in the spring of 1847, I was somewhat surprised, as they
had never been observed to pair, by the hen laying an egg, and a few days after a second. For the reason above mentioned, and
from the circumstance of no sort of nest having been made, I had no expectation that these would hatch, but that no chance
might be lost, they were placed under a common hen, and when I returned to Knowsley I was much pleased to find they had
both proved productive ; two or three more were afterwards laid by the same hen in the same way, but these were good for nothing.
The two chicks that were hatched, were also reared through the following winter, and proved both hens, but as they did not agree
with the parents, and I had no second male, I was obliged to keep them separate, and both died in the course of the next year. The
old pair bred again in 1849: about this time I received a copy of the ‘ Calcutta Sporting Review,’ wherein I found it stated that the
Impeyan Pheasant in its own country only lays five eggs; I therefore desired Thompson, as soon as that number had been laid, to
set them, the mother having made no nest, nor evinced any disposition to sit upon them herself. This was of course done, and in
due time four of them were hatched. Contrary to the statement in the Review, the bird continued laying ; but still having faith in
the assertion there made, the eggs laid were set at different periods, and it is odd enough that in each of these detachments of
four, three, and two eggs respectively, one proved to be addled, while all the rest were fertile. I believe the bird laid in all about
thirteen or fourteen eggs, and that at one time I had either nine or ten chicks alive, and I am inclined to attribute our success to
the eggs having been set while yet so very fresh. Unfortunately here my success stopped, for the birds that were hatched, one
after another drooped, apparently from cramp, and died, leaving me at last with only one chick of this year, a fine healthy, but
apparently hen bird, now quite as large as the mother, but which we keep separate from the others. As to the egg, in size,
general colour and markings, it strongly assimilates to that of the Capercailzie.”—Knowsley, Nov. 15, 1849.

A broken egg, kindly transmitted to me by his Lordship’s direction, is of a pale buff with small spots of
reddish brown or chestnut, about two inches and three-quarters in length by about one inch and seven-eighths
in breadth, and, as his Lordship observes, is very similar in appearance to the egg of the Capercailzie.

r . . 5

The male has the —_ head and throat metallic bronzy green ; middle of the neck purple, glossed with
a coppery hue becoming paler or yellowish on the lower part, and all exceedingly brilliant and iridescent 5
back- and wing-coverts rich purple, each feather tipped with bronzy green; across the lower part of the
back a broad band of pure white ; primaries black; under surface and thighs dull black glossed with green ;
tail cinnamon-brown ; irides br » bi ‘kk hormee Sr yaa .

é a z | ae irides brown ; bill dark horn-colour ; orbits blue ; legs and feet greenish ash.
1e€ Male [ iF oy » oye aN ieee . ° . °
emale buffy brown, each feather striped and spotted with deep brown ; chin white; quills black ;
secondaries alternately barred with black and red ; bill, orbits, irides and feet as in the male.

The Plate represents the two sexes ; Tae ee : . ee
a ee a : i sexes about two-thirds of the natural size, from a spirited sketch in oil,
ak “Nn 7 / lee VC ro » r > ° ee aN: # ‘ a e e
aken by I voll trom the living birds in the Gardens of the Zoological Society.