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Show 1879.] PHEASANTS IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDENS. 117 their age. The hen lays two eggs only at a sitting, and begins to sit at once ; but if the first two eggs are removed and placed under a bantam hen for hatchiug, in about a month or six weeks she lays two more eggs. These second two I have usually allowed her to sit on herself. The time of her sitting is twenty-one days. In the laying of two eggs only at a sitting the Peacock Pheasant resembles the Argus. The young Polyplectrons are not so strong as the young of the Argus: the young of the Argus are able to mount a high perch in a few days; but the young Polyplectrons are not able to do so until they are a month or six weeks old. The male Polyplectron takes no part in sitting or charge of the young birds. It is difficult to distinguish the sex of the young Polyplectrons until they are six or seven months old; by that time the males are seen to be a little larger than the females. They are also a little lighter in colour, and have a lighter-coloured eye. The egg of the Polyplectron chinquis (Plate VIII. fig. 2) is more like those of the true Pheasants, being of a uniform pale stone-colour, and measuring about 2*0 inches by 1 *45. 3. THE TEMMINCK'S TRAGOPAN (Ceriornis temmincki). Males of this Tragopan were acquired in 1864 and 1866 ; and in 1867 we acquired our first female. The first young birds were hatched in M a y 1869. The following are our head keeper's notes on the mode of incubation. Report on the Temminck's Tragopan. By B. MISSELBROOK. The old birds begin to lay early in April, and lay seven or eight eggs; they make their nest, if possible, off the ground. I therefore used always to place an open box for the hens to lay in, which box they readily take to, and, after laying the usual complement of eggs, begin to sit and hatch out young birds. The male bird at times takes a share in sitting on the eggs. The period of incubation is twenty-eight days. The young birds are not so strong as the young Argus, and they are not able to fly until they are four or five weeks old. At that time they will mount a perch along with the parent bird, and, if allowed, would roost outside along with the old bird for the night. The egg of Ceriornis temmincki (Plate VIII. fig. 3) is of a clear buff-colour freckled with reddish spots, and measures 2*05 inches by about 1*6. 4. THE HORNED TRAGOPAN (Ceriornis satyra). Of this species we received our first specimens from the Babu Rajendra Mullick in 1863'. They bred the same year, and again in 1865, after which we, unfortunately, lost most of our stock. 1 See P. Z. S. 1863, p. 104. |