P O L Y P L E C T R . O N B I C / - I C A R A T Ü M
POLYIMÆCTRON BICALOARATÜM.
IRIS POLYPLECTRON.
PAYO BICALCARATUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 268.—Raffles, Linn. Trans, vol. xiii. p. 319.
L’iPERONNIER, Buff. Plan. Enl. 492, 493.
LE PETIT PAON DE MALACCA, Sonn. Voy. aux Ind. Orient. v o l£& p . 173, pi. 99.
IRIS PEACOCK, Lath. Hist, of B. (1823) vol. viii. p. 118.
PAVO MALACCENSIS, Scop. Flor. et Faun. Insub. p.. 93.
POLYPLECTRON IRIS, Temm.
POLYPLECTRON HARDWICKII, Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. p. 37, pi. 41. fig. 1.—Gray, List Gall. (1867) p . 24.—Id. Gen. of Birds (1846), vol. iii.
p. 495i~sp. 3.—Bon. Compt. Rend. p. 878 (1856).
POLYPLECTRON BICALCARATUM, Gray, List Gall. (1867) p. 23.—Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863) p. 124.—Gould, B. o f Asia, pt. xxii. (1870).
—Blyth, Cat. B. Asiat. Soc.Beng. p. 242.—Gray, Gen. o f Birds, vol. iii; (1845) p. 49^S-Mem. Raffles (1830), p. 676.
H ab. Malaccan peninsula; Sumatra (B lyth, R affles);;
T h is species o i Polyplectroti is the one generally received in collections of skins from Malacca, and is more usually met with among
preserved specimens than its relative the P . thibetamm. On the other hand, living examples are much more difficult to obtain ;
and the only one I remember to have seen is ||pm a le now belonging to the fine collection of animals in the Gardens of the
Zoological Society of Antwerp. Its habitat is the peninsula of Malacca and the island of Sumatra. As with the P. thibetamm,
so also with the present species, great confusion exists in its synonymy, it being very difficult to understand what species is
intended simply by a description—particularly when, as in the case of the older authors, it is by no means full or explicit.
A figure, drawn without exaggeration of details or excessive colouring (which are too apt to be the' case with many authors), is
the only means by which these two allied species can he readily recognized ; for in reality they do not at all resemble each other,
either in size or colour o f plumage. Of the habits and economy o f this beautiful bird nothing is known, our acquaintance with
it' being chiefly derived from the inspection of skins. But it would not probably differ from its .allies in these respects, and
would lay two eggs, this being the number deposited by the members of this branch of the Phasianidæ. The sexes are similar
in .colour ; but the female is smaller, and lacks the brilliant spots so conspicuous Hn' the male.
Male.—Head covered with a lengthened- crest, grey and bJaek jalternating a t the base, and tipped with bluish. Throat covered
with brownish-white feathers. Neck and upper part of back brownish white, crossed by narrow lines o f blackish brown. Back,
wings, and tail yellowish brown, spotted with blackish • brown, with a luminous spot of brilliant green surrounded with black
near the end of each feather. These spots are very large on the tail-feathers, and confined on the lateral ones to the outer
web. Rump yellowish brown, minutely dotted with blackish brown. Primaries and inner webs of secondaries dark brown; thé
outer webs ôf the latter yellowish brown, mottled w iÉ dark brown, v 'Entire underparts yellowish brown, minutely mottled with
dark brown ; the shaft wliite.., Bill, upper mandible blackish brown; under mandible horn-colour. Feet and tarsi black. Naked
space around the eye red.
Female. Similar to the male ; but the brilliant spots upon the back are black without lustre, and those on the tail, though
metallic, are much smaller than those of the male.