i E FylOPyNI S B LY TH 'I
CERIORNIS BLYTHII.
B L T TH ’S TRAGOPAN,
CERIORNIS TEMMINCKII, Jerdon, Ibis, (.18091 p . 147.
CERIORNIS BLYTHII, Jerd. JornS Asiat. Soc. B en g .(l8 7 0 § g f| 60 —Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1870) pp. 162, 163, pl. 15.
H a b . Upper Assam ( J e r d o n K ^ S
T h e discovery o f this fine species has taken place so recently that nothing is yet known regarding its habits. The manner in which it came
to the knowledge o f ornithologists is so fhlly described by Dr. Sclater, in his paper lately published in the ‘ Proceedings o f the Zoological
Society,’ that I cannot do better than insert it here for the benefit o f my readers. Dr. Sclater states that, “ S ince the last Meeting, the
Society’s collection o f living Phasianidaa has been enriched by the acquisition o f the original typical specimens o f two very fine species o f
the genera Lophophorus and Ceriornis, which have been lately described as new by Dr. Jerdon. The discovery o f these remarkable
additions to §Kfe list o f known Pheasants is a matter o f so mpgli interest that I- venture tp offer to the Meeting a few remarks upon
the subject, in connexion with the drawings o f these splendid birds which I now exhibit.
“ In October las,t 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 lie had obtained from the hill-ranges in the neighbourhood o f Suddya a skin o f a Tragopan
(Ceriornis'), distinct from either o f the well-known Indian species, but which he believed might be C. Tenminckii o f China, and had seen
a living example o f an Impeyan from the same hills, which he regarded as probably new to science, and proposed to call Lophophorus
Sclateri. This letter was accompanied by an enclosure upon the same subject for publication in ‘ The Ibis,’ which was duly forwarded to
the editor o f that journal, and appeared in the last number.
E“ 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 o f the Society; h e had begged o f Major Montagu, o f the Bengal Staff Corps, the fortunate
possessor o f the new Impeyan, the living bird in question, as also a living example o f the so-called Ceriornis Temminckii, 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 o f consulting authorities, he had convinced himself that the Ceriornis was
distinct from C. Tenminckii, and, in a notice sent to the ‘ Journal o f the Asiatic Society o f Bengal,’ had proposed to call it Ceriornis Blythii.
“ I t 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. * * * *
“ Not less easily distinguishable from its Congeners hitherto known [than Lephophorus Sclateri] is Ceriornis Blythii, o f which I likewise
exhibit a figure. Amongst the described species of the genus it most nearly resembles Ceriornis Caboti, being below mesially of a nearly
uniform colour, somewhat as that species, and not distinctly ocellated as the three other members o f the genus. I t is, however, to be
recognized a t first sight by the splendid golden yellow of the naked face and throat.”
Th e individual above referred to is now 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 enclosure a female o f C. Temminc/cii has been placed ; and his manner o f
paying his addresses to his new companion is very interesting. When approaching her, h e lowers all the feathers which are on the side
nearest to her, almost hiding, his legs, showing to the greatest advantage tlie beautiful markings o f 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 towards the ground;
and in this way making the best display o f his beautiful plumage, he walks slowly round the hen, w h o , at least while I was watching
them, appeared perfectly indifferent to the attractive creature who was endeavouring to arrest her attention. I have passed considerable
time at different intervals before their enclosure, in hopes o f seeing the bird expand its wattles, as we might expect them to be quite
differently marked and coloured from those o f the other sp e c ie s; but I have not yet been fortunate enough to witness this exhibition. It
is to be hoped that the other sex o f this fine species may be procured, and that the race may be perpetuated and acclimatized in
England.
Th e portrait here presented was taken from the type and only known specimen, and is a faithful representation o f the bird. Although
it is a difficult matter to give a minute description when it has. to be taken from a living example, yet, aided by my plate, the following
diagnosis will probably be su ffic ie n t—
Upper parts reddish brown, the feathers variegated with black and covered with white spots or e y e s ; head, neck, and breast bright
ch e stn u t; a broad stripe on the top o f the head and one on each side o f the ears b la ck ; face and bare skin o f the throat rich yellow,
this becoming in the lower part shining green, divided from the breast by a line o f black; abdomen ashy grey, indistinctly marked,
flanks spotted with w h ite ; primaries che stnut; bill black, feet reddish flesh-colour; iris dark brown.
The figure is o f the natural size.