J.Wolf k J .Sm it del.&Mi.
ITHAGI N IS Ci^UENTUS
IT HM IN I S jBRUENTUS.
BLOOD PHEASANT.
SANGUINE PHEASANT, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. viii. p. 205.
PHASIANUS GEUENTUSj Hardw. Linn. Trans, vol. xiii. p. 237:
PERDIX CRUENTATA, Temin. Plan. Col. 332.—Jard. Nat. Lib'.' vol. ii.
PHASIANUS GARDNERI, Hardw. Linn. Trans, to!.' xv. p. 166 ($ ).
FRANCOLINUS CRUENTATUS, C u t . Regn. Anim. (1829) vol. i. p. 484.
ITHAGINIS CRUENTUS, Wagl. Isis (1832), p. 1228.—Jerd. B. of Ind. ve£/
Mus. Asiat. Soc. Beng. p. 241.—Gray, List of Birds Coll. Brit. Mus,
pt. iii.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds (1870), p. 264,.no. 9642.
ITHAGINIS GARDNERI, Wagl. Isis (1832), p. 1228.
LOPHOPHORUS GARDNERI, Less. Man. d’Orn. vol. ii. p. 180.
ii. p. 522.—Gray,. Gen. o f Birds, voLiii^p. 504.—Blyth, Cat. B.
pt. iii. p. 31.—-Id. List of Gall. (1867) p. 46.—Gould, B. of Asia,
H a b . South-east Himalayas, Nepal, Sikim ( J e r d o n ) .
A l t h o u g h by some authors the species forming the genus Ithaginis are not considered members of the Phasianidæ, I have deemed
it best to introduce them with this family, as their geographical distribution and the texture and shape of their feathers, as well as
their habits, incline me to believe that their proper position is with thé Pheasants, and not with the Partridges, where some writers
have placed them. Like the Pheasants the sexes are very différent in the colour of their plumage ; and the two species which compose
the genus are dwellers on lofty mountain-ranges, where no species of Partridge has ever been known to frequent. The beautiful bird
which is the subject of the present article is a native of the Himalayan mountains, a t the south-eastern portion of the range, and is also
to be met with in Nepal and Sikim. “ It appears,” says Jerdon, “ more abundant, in Sikim, in the interior; for it is not found in
British Sikim, and probably extends into the Bootan Himalayas.” Dr. Hooker, who has had the best opportunities of observing this
Pheasant in Sikim, writes as follows regarding i t:—
“ This, the boldest of the alpine birds of its kind, frequents the mountain-ranges o f Eastern Nepal and Sikim, a t an elevation
varying from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, aud is very abundant in many of the valleys among the forests of pine (Abies Webbiana) and juniper.
It seldom or ever crows, but emits a weak cackling noise. When put up, it takes a very short flight, and then runs to shelter.
During winter it appears toSjburrow under or in holes amongst the snow ; for I have snared it in January in regions thickly covered
with snow, at an altitude o f 12,000 feet. I have seen the young in May. The principal food of the bird consists of the tops of the
pine and juniper in spring, and the berries of the latter in autumn and winter ; its flesh has always a very strong flavour, and is
moreover uncommonly tough ; it, however, was the gonly bird I obtained a t those great elevations. in tolerable abundance for food,
and that not very frequently. The Bhoteas say that it acquires an additional spur every year; certain it is that they are more numerous
than in any other bird, and that they are not alike on both legs. I could not discover the cause of this difference; neither could
I learn if they were produced at different times. I believe that five on one leg, and four on the other, is the greatest number I
have observed.” Oruithognomon says that “ neither Hooker nor Jerdon alludes to the rarity of this species; but it must be
uncommon ; for, notwithstanding numerous excursions along the Botân side of the Runget, and numerous meetings with; Boteas on
their way to the plains laden with hill-birds for sale, I have never come across this bird, in freedom or captivity.” My friend Dr.
T. C. Jerdon has kindly sent me the following account of this species :— “ The only time that I have myself seen the Ithaginis was
in September 1868, on a trip to the Singhaleela range, west o f Darjeeling. This is a lofty spur that runs south from Kinchinjunga,
ending in Mount Tonglo, 10,000 feet. At about 12,000 to 13,000 feet a covey of these beautiful birds crossed the mountain-path I
was ascending; and, quickly calling for my gun, I knocked one or two over on the ground. Only one bird rose on the wing after I
fired; aud it settled down again almost imediately, the rest escaping by running into the underwood in the. forest. A native
Shikaree followed them up and succeeded in securing three or four more of the family. The young were nearly half-grown, and the
cock birds were clothed in the adult male plumage, not so bright or well-marked of course as an old bird. The bill of the female
is dull reddish a t tip and chestnut a t the base ; the nude orbital skin in the male rich blood-red, and the irides red brown, the bill
being dusky or black at the tip. I see in Hodgson’s drawing of this bird that the bill of the female is rightly given red. I could
not notice exactly how the tails were held, except that they were certainly raised whilst running. The food of those examined
consisted entirely o f vegetable matter. The skins of this beautiful bird previously brought into Darjeeling have all been procured at
a considerable distance in the interior of Sikkim ; and I was rather surprised to find them here in such a damp climate and so