CERIORNIS BLYTHII, Jerd.
Blyth’s Horned Pheasant.

Ceriornis Temmincki, Jerd. Ibis, 1870, Dealt

—_— Blyth, Jerd. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 1870, p. 60.—Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1870, pp. 162, 163,

164, 219, pl. xv.—Elliot, Mon. of Phas., pl.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, pt. ii. p. 262.

 

“In October last” (1869), says Mr. Sclater, “ Dr. T. C. Jerdon, the well-known Indian naturalist, addressed
to me a letter from Shillong, a new sanitarium on the Khasya Hills in Upper Assam, stating that he had
obtained from the hill-ranges in the neighbourhood of Suddya a skin of a Tragopan (Ceriornis), distinct from
either of the well-known Indian species, but which he believed might be C. Temminckii of China, and had
seen a living example of an Impeyan from the same hills, which he regarded as probably new to science, and
proposed to call Lophophorus Sclateri.

“In a subsequent communication, received through Dr. J. Anderson, our excellent correspondent and
honorary agent at Calcutta, Dr. Jerdon informed me that, in the interests of the Society, he had begged of
Major Montagu, of the Bengal Staff Corps, the fortunate possessor of the new Impeyan, the living bird in
question, as also a living example of the so-called Certornis Temminckit, in the same gentleman’s possession,
and had forwarded them to Calcutta to Dr. Anderson for transmission to the Society. Dr. Jerdon likewise
stated that, since he last wrote, having had an opportunity of consulting authorities, he had convinced him-
self that the Ceriornis was distinct from C. Temminckii, and, in a notice sent to the ‘Journal of the Asiatic
Society of Bengal,’ had proposed to call it Ceriornis Blyth.

“Tt is to Major Montagu, therefore, that the Society are primarily indebted for these two splendid birds,
which reached us in safety on the 12th inst., though our best thanks are likewise due to Dr. Jerdon and Dr.
Anderson for their kind assistance in the matter, and to Mr. William Jamrach, who most liberally undertook
to convey them home, under his personal care, and has delivered them to us in excellent condition.

«¢ Amongst the described species of the genus it most nearly resembles C. Cabot:, being below mesially of a
nearly uniform colour, somewhat as in that species, and not distinctly ocellated as the three other members of
the genus. It is, however, to he recognized at first sight by the splendid golden yellow of the naked face
and throat.” eo. ae

Mr. Elliot, speaking of this species m his ‘Monograph of the Phasianide,’ says ‘The individual Nove
referred to is now (June 1870) in the Gardens, Regent’s Park, and is in a very healthy condition. It is
quite tame, and appears to have become reconciled to its captivity. In ioe same eee venue of C.
Temminckii has been placed ; and his manner of paying his addresses to ans new companion is very naLeTests
ing. When approaching her, he lowers all the feathers which are on the side nearest to her, almost hiding

his legs, showing to the greatest advantage the beautiful markings of his plumage, and the admirable manner

in which the various colours blend into one another. The tail is widely spread at the same time, and lowered

: : ae See ee eS Te ee
towards the ground ; and in this way making the best display of his beautiful plumage, he ae y
1 atching appe 2 indifferent to the attractive
round the hen, who, at least while I was watching them, appeared perfectly indiffere
S = © 99
creature who was endeavouring to arrest her attention. sé thie bindlse fannie ny te ea
icati i 187 ; s that this bird 1 » hill-re
In a communication to ‘The Ibis’ for 1870, Dr. Jerdon states tha ae oe 5 |
ing, it 1s arte aslOl a rather low level.
Upper Assam towards the head of the valley, descending, it is asserted, occasionally to a ré
2 ”?
It is called “ Sun-séria” by the natives, which means the “‘ Golden bird.
s fine bird did not grace the Society's menagerie for any lengthened period, but, dying
5 c 3 ;
s~TeEe yo . le I
was thereby enabled to make perfect the accompanying ae
for one hail with great pleasure the discovery of this valuable acquisition, which makes one wonder if there
: = . + 2. 7»
‘os yet to be found of this beautiful form, and also of the equally beautiful genus Lophophorus,
A hese iz. Lophophorus I’ Huysit and L. Selaterv.
of which two new ones have lately become known to us, viz. Lopuoplone e :
; hs « orr ° Gs nes
Inasmuch as a verbal description of the colourmg and of the form and arrangement of the a ng .
a S ssarily fail of ¢ i n adequate idea
: I fer minute and accurate, must necessarily fail of conveying an adequé ‘
no cor cen ibe tl but refer my readers to the accompanying Plate,
ibe them, but rete c )
shall not attempt to descr
ng example above mentioned.
The very reduced figure in the background is supposed to

Unfortunately thi
in its finest state of plumage, I

of its appearance, I ne
in which they are accurately displayed from the iv1
The principal figure is nearly of the size of life.

represent what the female will be like.