Btyth’s Horned Pheasant.
Ceriomis Temmincki, Jerd. Ibis, 1870, p. 147.
BlytUi, Jerd. Journ. Asiat. S?,c, B e n g , 1870, p. 00. -Solat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1870, pp. 162, 163,
164, 219, pi. XV, Elliot, Mon. o f P has., pi.—Gray, Hand-list o f B irds, p t. ii. p. 262.
■' I October la s t” (1869), says Mr. Sclater, |D r . 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 (Grnorais), distinct from
either of the well-known Indian species, but which he believed might be C. T$mmmckii 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, be 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 Ceriomis TemminckU, in the same gentleman’s possession,
i‘« id had forwarded them to Galcptta to Dr. Anderson for transmission to the Society. Dr. Jerdon likewise
stated that, smmfbe last wrote, having had art opportunity of consulting authorities, he had convinced himself
that the Ceriomis was distinct from C. TemminckU, and, in a notice sent to the ‘ Journal of the Asiatic
Society of Bengal,’ had proposed to call it Ceriornis Bltjthn.
“ I t is to Major Montagu, therefore, that the Society are primarily indebted for these two splendid birds,
which reached os in safety on the 12tll 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 h p ffV under his personal care, .and has delivered them to ns in excellent condition. '
“ Amongst the described species of the genus it most nearly resembles C. Caioti, 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.” , * . . . . ,
Mr Elliot, speaking of this species in his ‘Monograph of the Phasiamdae, says “ The individual above
referred to ifn o w (Ju n e 1870): in the Gardens, Regent’s Park, and is in a very healthy condition. I t is
quite tame, and appears to have become reconciled to its captivity. In the same en ip su re a female of <1
TemminckU has been placed; and his manner of paying his addresses to his new companion is very interesting.
When approaching her, he lowers all the feathers which are on the side nearest to her, almost hiding
his levs, showing to the greatest advantage the beautiful markings of his plumage, and the admirable manner
1 which the various colours blend into one another. The tail is widely spread at the same time, and lowered
towards the ground; and I this way making the best display of his beautiful plumage, he walks slowly
round the hen, who, at least while I was watching them, appeared perfectly indifferent to the attractive
creature who was endeavouring to arrest her attention.”
In a communication to ‘The Ib is ’ for 1870,D r. Jerdon states that this bird is found on the hill-ranges of
Upper Assam towards the head of the valley, descending, it is asserted, occasionally to a rather low level.
It is called | Súnsúria ” by the natives, which means the I Golden bird.”
Unfortunately this fine bird did not grace the Society’s menagerie for any lengthened period, but, dying
in its finest state of plumage, I was thereby enabled to make perfect the accompanying representation. I
for one hail with great pleasure the discovery of this valuable acquisition, which makes one wonder if there
be any more species yet to be found of this beautiful form, and also o f the equally beautiful genus Lophophorus,
of which two new ones have lately become known to us, viz. Lophophorus L ’Huysii and L . S t e m .
Inasmuch as a verbal description of the colouring and of the form and arrangement of the markings of
Blvth’s Horned Pheasant, however minute and accurate, must necessarily fell of conveying an adequate idea
of its appearance, I shall not attempt to describe them, but refer my readers to the accompanying Plate,
in which they are accurately displayed from the living example above mentioned.
The principal figure is nearly of the size of life. The very reduced figure in the background is supposed to
represent what the female will be like.