CERIORNIS TEMMINCKII.

TYemminck’s Horned Pheasant.

Satyra Temmincku, J. HE. Gray in Hardw. Ill. Ind. Zool., vol. i. pl. 50.—Bonap. Compt. Rend. de |’Acad. Sci., tom.
xlii. séance du 12 mai 1856.

Tragopan Temminckui, Benn. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part ii., 1834, Da aoe

Certornis Temmincku, G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p- 499, Certornis sp. 3.—Gray, List of Spec. of Birds in

Coll. Brit. Mus., part. v. Galline, p. 41.—Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1863, p. 123.

 

For our first knowledge of the existence of this Chinese species of Certornis we are indebted, as in the case
of the Phasranus Reevesit, to the gentleman after whom that bird was named. It is true that it formed one
among the many grotesque objects represented in the rice-paper drawings which had for many years been
sent to Europe, but which was supposed to be entirely imaginary, until living examples in the celebrated
menagerie of the late Mr. Beale, at Macao, attracted the notice of Mr. Reeves, who did not rest until
he had sent specimens to the national collection, and made us acquainted with a bird of which we had
previously only seen faulty representations. Now (1868) living examples not only grace our menageries, but
are breeding as freely as any species of a form differing essentially from every other comprising the
avifauna of Europe can be expected to do: it is fortunate that such is the case; for ornithologists have
thereby been enabled to study their varied actions and manners during the exciting period of spring, and
to ascertain that they are both curious and interesting. Of the true habitat of this bird, which is probably
the most eastern species of the genus, as the C. melanocephalus is the most western, our knowledge is
extremely scanty ; for all we know is that it is a native of China, probably the hills in continuation of the
great Himalayas. On the southern slopes of these lofty ranges, but at a considerable elevation, all the four
known species most likely dwell; two of them certainly reside there, namely the C. melanocephalus in the
north-western provinces of Kumaon, at an elevation of 10,000 feet, and the C. satyra at a similar altitude in
Nepaul, Bootan, and Sikhim ; but, as before mentioned, the habitat of the present species is unknown ; and we
are equally unacquainted with that of C. Cabotz. Besides being indebted to Mr. Reeves for the first intro-
duction of C. Temminckii, science is under considerable obligation to Mr. James J. Stone for his perseverance
in obtaining many of the living examples now in this country; and I have, moreover, to thank him for the
loan of specimens of both sexes, whereby I am enabled to give a more faithful representation of them than I
could otherwise have done. The accuracy of the accompanying plate has, moreover, been greatly aided by
Mr. T. W. Wood’s sketches of the form and colouring of the wattles of the male during the nuptial season.
The displays of this appendage made by the bird at that time are most astonishing, and must be seen to be
appreciated : so extraordinary are they, that the keepers in the Zoological Society’s Gardens could not help
expressing to me their surprise and wonder at its instant prolongation and cOntEACHOH|; like a flash of
lightning ” was the simile of one, ‘like brilliant fireworks ” that of another. ‘These manifestations of oo
ment I have also witnessed myself; and the sudden descent of the immense wattle a ee and red, the dila-
tation of the cylindrical pendent horns of verditer green and blue, and the depression of SE ea of the
crown, and their lateral expansion over the eyes, afforded me much pleasure and delight. To figure tee
instantaneous exhibitions is impossible ; and beautiful as the accompanying representation may appear, it
falls far short of the original.

One of the earliest contributors to our knowledge of this bird is Dr. George Bouncy of Sydney, New
South Wales, who, when in England in 1834, exhibited, at the meeting of ube Zoological Society of Eondon
held on the 13th of May, specimens of three kinds of Ceriornes, including the present species, and) in
illustration of its history, placed upon the table drawings of specimens olsenel by him 2) Uluen, showing
the remarkable wattle in various stages of expansion, and read the following note on the ee —

‘“‘In its contracted state the membrane has merely the appearance al 2 Putas skin under the lower
mandible; and is even sometimes so much diminished in size as to be quite invisible. : Me aie
during the early spring months or pairing-season cae year, drom January to Mare ; B 5 ; ; ae a
being displayed or contracted at the will of the bird. During excitement it aon — : ji ‘ ON :
breast, and exhibits the most brilliant colours, principally of a vivid purple, with bright red an ora spots,

‘ ae . oe , f excitement. When they are most brilliant (that
the colours varying in intensity according to the degree o » "Phe livitie sue nn ene eect eatin
is, when the excitement is great) the purple horns are usually elevated. he ae - ci i ne |
Bennett were procured from the province of Yunnan, bordering on Thibet. Mr. Beale, in ya

. Y r i
: — acee is Zu Xou Meu.
Macao they were, had not succeeded in obtaining females: te Che ee