GROS SO T I L O N D R O U Y N I I ©ROSBiiPTILON DROUYNII.
DROUYN’S BARED PHEASANT.
CROSSOPTILON DROUYNII, J. Verr. NoiÎ^Archiv. du Mus. Paris (1868), vol. iv. p. 85, pl. 3 .—Gray, Hand-L Birds, pt. ii. p. 259. no. 9594.
H a b . Thibet (D a b r v ) . Moupin (D a v id ) .
It is a rather singular circumstance that another species of this genus should be discovered, presenting so slight a difference from
the one long since described by Mr. Hodgson. Whether M not C. Mouynii is really entitled to be considered distinct is very
difficult to decide a t present, from the fact that only one specimen,of C. thibetanum is known,. In his article in the ‘Archives du
Muséum,’ M, Verreaux says that “ this magnificent speciéf ' was sent tq.M. Soubeiran by M. Dabry, Consul of France at Hankow, and
given to . the Museum of Paris by M._ Drouyn de Lhuys. It is nearest to thè! & thibetanum of Hodgson, figured by Mr. Gray in
his ‘Genera of Birds.’ In its general plumage it resembles this last, but is distinguished from it, first, by the colour of the primaries,
which are brownish in C. thibetanum, but greyish white in our new species. But the greatest difference is, that the outer tail-
feathers are not only not black, but want the white spots so characteristic in the other species. We would also remark that
the middle tail-feathers are not so large, nor do they possess the shining golden green of the bird’s described by Mr. Hodgson,
whose unique specimen has been .for. so long in the collection of the British Museum. This bird comes also from Thibet, from a
locality called Moupin ; unfortunately we have no accpiffit o f its habits. All that we can say, judging from the other known species,
is, that the female will only differ from the male in not having spurs,, a character which Separates this genus from the true
Pheasants, whose females are always dissimilar, riot only in the colour o ^ th e ir plumage, but also in their form. As a duty, as
well as pleasure, we here preserve the name ofitC. Drouynii, by, which appellation Professor Milne-Edwards had p re sen ted lif to the
Institute, and as a testimony of respect for the efforts which M. Drouyn de Lhuys, the esteemed President o f the Society of
Acclimatation, has always employed in order to render"%piii^service to science, Since the above specimen was procured, M- David
has obtained several examples- a t Moupin, all of- which were forwarded to Paris. They differed in no respect from the type, except
that the females were destitute of spurs. I t would be very interesting to receive some more specimens of C. thibetanum, in order
to ascertain whether the peculiarities exhibited are constant, or are exceptional, as it is difficult to believe that two forms inhabiting
the same country should maintain a specific distinctness founded on such slight variations^ It is very probable that they constitute
but one species, and that those specimens hearing the term “Drouynii ” are less adult than the unique individual known as C. thibetanum,
the differences exhibited by them being caused simply by the- fact of their not having attained the mature plumage. I have much
pleasure in expressing my thanks to Professor Milne-Edwards for the. facilities which he has afforded me for the examination of the
specimens of this bird, as. well as all the other species o f the Plmiahidoe contained in the rich collection of the Museum of
Paris. The differences between the present bird and C. thibetanum ilMijifcg1 been already stated by M. Verreaux in the above extract,
it i s . unnecessary to give a full description'.