The specific distinctions of this bird, compared with the other members of the genus, are so well marked
that they need not be dwelt u pon; but I may mention that the grey centres o f the abdominal feathers
constitute the most conspicuous of them.
As is the case with all the other species, the sexes differ materially in colour.
The male has the lores, forehead, a few o f the foremost feathers of the crest, a broad stripe over each
eye,' the ear-coverts, the sides of the head, occiput, and nape deep black ; remainder of the crest, neck, and
breast rich deep chestnut-red; all the upper surface is also chestnut-red in general appearance, but on
examination each feather is found to be mottled with black and white, the latter assuming a V-shaped form
with the base-towards the extremity; at the centre o f the tip is a nearly round spot of white encircled by a
narrow ring of black, on each side of which the tip is rich deep chestnut; primaries blackish brown,
conspicuously mottled on the outer and minutely on the inner web with tawny or deep buff; feathers of the
under surface o f the body and the under tail-coverts grey, broadly margined with reddish chestnut, which,
on the thighs, gradually becomes light red without any grey in the c en tre ; lower part of the tail-coverts
deep grey, gradually mingling with the dark dull red of their margins ; tail mottled black, brown, and buff;
wattles rich blue, with, in tbe centre of each side, a series of short bands of scarlet; the undersides o f the
wattles are moreover sparsely clothed with black feathers, which, projecting beyond the edge, give them
a fringed appearance; bill and feet horn-colour.
The female is mottled all over with brown, black, and buff, with a few white markings on the centres of
the back-feathers, and of grey on those of the breast.
The accompanying plate represents a male nearly of the size of life, and a female considerably
reduced.