E U P L O C A M U S M E L A N O T U S .
the ‘ yits ’ :0iillrPI)casants). I could not help smiling a t such a singularly literal illustration of the fabled mountain in labour,
with the nascitur ridiculus mtis enactedviby these funny birds. I have only on that occasion heard this extraordinary sound, though
for . weeks at a time journeying and living-in forests abounding in hill-Pheasants, and Mountaineer is the only writer I have met
with who alludes to it. It is therefore probable that the bird very seldom indulges in it.'
“ I have kept. several o f the Black-crested and the Silvery Kullij in confinement, and have found .them equally wild—but not
difficult to rear, if their food be varied, and plenty of insect6, especially white ants, given them. The eggs are white, about the
size of those of the Jungle-fowl, but rather longer in shape. They lay throughout the hot weather, and bring forth their broods
in April, May, and June.”
Male.—Crest and entire upper parts and tail black, with a bluish gloss. Underparts white, feathers lanceolate in shape; abdomen
and under tail-coverts brownish black. Bare skin of face red. Bill horn-colour. Feet and legs flesh-colour.
Female.—Head and occipital crest dark brown. Entire upper parts dark brown, becoming reddish on the rump, all the feathers
finely mottled with black, and witb the margins brownish white. Primaries dark brown; secondaries rufous brown, finely mottled
with black. Throat white; lower parts and flanks dark rufous brown, broadly margined with white; shafts white. Upper tail-
coverts reddish brown, finely mottled with black. Middle tail-feathers reddish, thickly mottled with black; the rest of the tail-feathers
black. Under coverts black, edged with white. Bill black a t base, born-colour a t tip. Feet and legs grey.