T a b b . L X I X . e t L X X .
PH A S IA N U S PUCRAS IA.
T he present bird, which was first made known to science by tlie researches of Major-General Hardwicke, is
no less interesting than the former sjiecies, as exhibiting tlie same tendency, by some o f its characters, to
connect nearly allied genera. From its form and general ajijiearance, its most obvious jilaec apjiears to be
among the true Phe a sants; but from these birds it differs remarkablv by its singularly wcdge-sliajied tail, as
well as by its crested head, a character which forms a very distinctive mark o f the grouji of Pheasants that
inhabit the mountainous districts of India. The crest, however, of the present species differs from that of the
preceding in its being composed of sejiarate rigid feathers standing from tbe head independently of one
anotlier; wliile that of P . Staceii consists of soft falling feathers of a lighter and more delicate texture. Both
sexes o f this bird have been received from the Himalaya, where it ajijicars to be by no means an unconimon
species. Tlic female is figured in this work for the first time ; and it was, indeed, more especially for the
juirpose of figuring this se.v, that the species was selected for illustration in this work, a good figure o f the
male having already been given in Major-General Hardwicke’s “ Indian Zoology.”
T h e head is ornamented witli a pendent crest, o f which the lower feathers arc greenish black, the ujijier
tawny ; the head, back, and front of the neck, are black with green rellections ; the sides of the neck wliite ;
the upjier surface cinereous, passing off on the secondaries and (jnill-feathers into tawny, tho former being
mottled with small dots ; the sides of the chest and flanks are ornamented with long lanceolate feathers,
having white edges with a central line of black ; the breast and nnder surface are o f a deep rich c liestniit;
the bill black ; the tarsi brown.
The upper plumage of the female is o f a uniform tawny brown, elegantly barred and sjiotted with zigzag
lines and dots of black ; the feathers of the crest arc short, and of the same colour as the rest of the
plumage; the throat is dull white ; the under jiarts light tawiiy.
The resjiective Plates rejiresent tho male and female two thirds of their natural size.
I ' 11A I ..\ -V r A 1’ r t ' K A A 1 A ,
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