CATREUS WALLICHI.

Cheer.

Lophophorus Wallicht, Hardw. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 166.
Phasianus Wallichii, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 497, Phasianus, sp. 4.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii.
pt. 2. p. 527.
Staceii, Vig. in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part i. p. 35.—Gould, Cent. of Birds,
pl. 68.
Catreus Wallichi, Bonap. Compt. Rend. de l’Acad. des Sci., tom. xlii. séance du 12 Mai, 1856.
Chir, Cheor, Banchil, and Herril in various parts of the Himalayas ; Kahir in Nepaul.

 

Tur Cheer has for the last few years been an object of great interest to those persons who have endeavoured
to introduce additional species of the Gallinacee into our woods and coverts; their attempts, however, have
not as yet been attended with any great degree of success ; for although the present bird has bred in the
Gardens of the Zoological Society, at Viscount Hill’s at Hawkstone, and at the Earl of Craven’s at Ashdown,
it has not in either case furnished any evidence that its introduction would be beneficial for sport or for the
table. Lord Craven has obtained a cross between this bird and our common Pheasant; but, as might be
expected, it is a decided mule, and incapable of propagation. To all those who may not have oppor-
tunities for observing the Cheer in a state of nature, the sight of it in our menageries must be interesting ;
but there, in my opinion, the interest ceases.

I take the liberty of here transferring Major-General Hardwicke’s original account of this species, and also
a lengthened extract from the ‘ Bengal Sporting Magazine,’ in which ‘« Mountaineer ” has given an interesting
account of its habits and economy.

“The local name of this bird is Cheer. It is a native of the Almorah Hills, on the north-eastern boundary
of Hindostan, is remarkably bold, and fights with great vigour on the least irritation, at the same time
raising its feathers and prating with a noise which resembles the word tuckraa, tuckraa, several times
repeated.”

Mr. Jerdon informs us that “this fine though plain-coloured Pheasant is only found in the north-western
Himalayas, extending into Nepaul, where, however, it is not so common as further west.” ‘‘It is,” says
“«« Mountaineer,” “an inhabitant of the lower and intermediate ranges, is seldom found at very great elevations,
and never approaches the limits of forest. Its haunts are on grassy hills, with a scattered forest of oak and
small patches of underwood, hills covered with the common pine, near the sites of deserted villages, old
cow-sheds, and the long grass among precipices and broken ground. It is seldom found on hills destitute
of trees or jungle, or in the opposite extreme of deep shady forest ; in the lower ranges it keeps near the tops of
the hills, and is rarely met with in the valleys or deep ravines. It wanders about a good deal on the particular
hill on which it is located, but not beyond certain boundaries, remaining about one spot for several days or
weeks, then shifting to another, but never entirely abandoning the place, and, year after year, may to a
certainty be found in some quarter of it. It runs very fast, and, if the ground be open and no cover near,
will run two or three hundred yards in preference to getting up. After concealing itself, it hes very close.

“The crow of this bird is loud and singular, and, when there is nothing to interrupt the sound, may be
heard for at least a mile. It is something like the words chir-a-pir, chir-a-pir, chir-chir, chirwa-chirwa, but
a good deal varied ; it is often begun before daylight.

“The Cheer-Pheasant feeds chiefly on roots, for which it digs holes in the ground ; grubs, insects, seeds,
and berries, and, if near cultivated fields, several kinds of grain also form a portion of its diet. It is easy
to rear in confinement, and might, without difficulty, be naturalized in England, if it would stand the long
frosts and snows of severe winters, which I imagine is rather doubtful. The female makes her nest in the
grass or amongst low bushes, and lays from nine to fourteen eggs, of a dull white, and rather small for so
large a bird. They are hatched about the end of May or beginning of June. Both male and female keep
with the young brood, and seem very solicitous for their safety.

“This bird flies rather heavily, and seldom very far. Like most others, it generally utters a few loud
screeches on getting up, and spreads out the beautifully barred feathers of its long tail, both when flying and
running. It does not perch much on trees, but will occasionally fly up into one near at hand when put up by
dogs. It generally sleeps on the ground; and when congregated together, the whole flock huddle up in one
spot. They will, however, at times roost in trees or bushes.”

The male has the feathers of the head and crest dark ashy grey, with somewhat lighter edges ; neck hght
ash-colour, slightly barred on the lower part with dusky black ; neck, back, upper surface, shoulders, and
wing-coverts barred with buff, ashy grey, and brownish black, with which latter hue the two former are