P'OLYPLE.C TP^ON CL LCUI\UM
POLYPLECTRON CH ALCURUM.
SUMATRAN POLYPLECTRON.
POLYPLECTRON CHALCURUM, Temm. Plan, e p l^ . 51d— Oray, List B. Brit. Mus. (1844) p. 22.—Sclat. Proc. Zbol, Soc. (1867) p. 124, sp.
3.—Gray, List Gall. (1867) p. 25.—Cuv. Rbg. Anim. (1829) vol.‘i.,p. 474.—Less. Trait. Om. (1831) p. 487, sp. 2.
POLYPLECTRUM INOCELLATUM, Cuv. Mus. Paris.
CHALCURUS INOCELLATUS, Bon. Compt. Rend. (1856) p. 878:.
11 Ait. Sumatra.,
T his' plainly-coloured species would seem .to b e 'in a measure apart from the* members of the genus Polypleclron, as it wants entirely
the brilliant, spots qfc changeable colours which cover so profusely the plumage of its allies and- render them such attractive objects.
It possesses, however, one characteristic not met with in the other species, viz. the bright metallic hue of the outer webs of the
tail-feathers, which in some lights are deep blue, in others a rich purpje. It is apparently a very rare bird, and specimens are
only to be met with in the collections o f the various national museums. It was first described by TemminCk, from specimens
brPiight by M. Diard from Sumatra, and deposited in the Paris Museum. From not having any of the metallic spots, its describer
supposed it to ’ have not acquired its full plumage, although the strong spurs upon .the legs forbade him to imagine that it was a
young bird o f the year. ’However, we now are aware that ijp! specimen was fully adult, and that thq sexes differ in plumage only by
the female having a somewhat shorter and less brilliant tail. Of its habits nothing whatever is known, the opportunities afforded
to naturalists for observing it having been top few to ¿.enable them to become acquainted with its mode of life. Bonaparte
instituted a new genus for tins species, that of C/ialcurus, separating it from Polypleclron; but this is not admissible—the bird
evidently belonging to that genus,' although the plainest of its members. •
The species may be described as follows:—*
General colour of the body dark rufous brown, every feather crossed with riumerous bars of black. Upper tail-coverts the same
as the feathers o f the body,. only the bars are somewhat broader. The central tail-feathers dark brown, spotted with buff until
within two inches' of the tip, when ft^becomes a brilliant changeable purple, the tip spotted with light brown. The outer webs
o f the lateral feathers are also o f the same beautiful purple, changing into blue in some lights. Throat light brown. Bill
blackish b r o w n f e e t and tarsi brownish, the latter armed with two or more spurs.
The figure is life-size.