XQuery

Colophon

The animal on the cover of XQuery is the satyr tragopan (Tragopan satyra), a member of the pheasant family and one of five tragopan species. This bird, sometimes called the crimson horned tragopan, inhabits the Himalayas, from Kashmir east up into Tibet and central China. Its two names are derived from the distinctive appearance of the male—his protruding fleshy outgrowths above the eyes, which look like horns, and his bright red plumage. Both plumage and horns are central to his courtship displays.

Tragopans feed on insects, leaves, sprouts, and seeds and are thought to be monogamous. Although incubation is done entirely by the female, the male may assist in tending the chicks. Most tragopans are good breeders in captivity, adapting well to various cold-weather climates and becoming quite tame.

Four of the five species of tragopans are in danger of extinction due to the destruction of their habitats. Unlike most fowl, tragopans live at very high elevations, ranging from 925 to 3650 meters. In the winter they are typically found in the thickest parts of pine trees, but during mating season they travel upward to the extreme limits of the forest. Finding a high branch, the male tragopan establishes a territorial perch from which he makes mating calls at five-minute intervals. His call, which some have described as similar to that of a goose or young lamb, can be heard for more than a mile.

The cover image is from The Riverside Natural History. The cover font is Adobe ITC Garamond. ...