M &>N H anhart imp.
L O PH O PH O R U S SC!-AT B i n
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LOPHOPHORUS SCLATERI.
SCLATER’S MONAL.
LOPHOPHORUS SCLATERI, Jerd. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Beng. (1870) p. 64 —Id. Ibis (1870), p. 147.—Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1870) p. 162-
Gray, Hand-list o f Birds (1870), p. 261, no.
H a b . Upper Assam ( J e r d o n ) .
T h is M o n a l . t h i r d s p e g e s ^ f this genus, which is distinguished by possessing the most brilliantly coloured birds found
among the Phasianidie. ; Sclater’s Monal, however, is not so handsome as cither of .the other, two species, lacking the greater
metallic huAwhjqhV cause its;Sigja|ves to be such a&ractive objects. The only specimen known, which is now
living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London, was obtained in Upper Assam, described by Dr. Jerdon, and forwarded
by him to the Society.
I am favoured by Dr. Jerdon with the following short account of the species, which comprises all th a t’is known regarding i t:—-
“ At Suddya, our frontier station a t the head the valley of Assam, a Nula or Fair is held annually in February, to which most
of the hijl-tribes come, and are entertained by the Deputy Commissioners of the district at the expense of the Government, and
get presents of rum, opium, salt, tobacco,. &c. A living specimen of the Cmornis Blythii was brought down and given to the
Deputy Commissioner, Major Stewart, whilst I was with him, jgp some of the Mishmi tribes. At the same time and place Major
Stewart also received one living specimen of the Lophophorus Sclaten. I t was in very bad plumage ; and though I saw at once that it
was a distinct species, I could not then describe it. He brought it to Shillong and gave it to Major Montagu. It moulted when
in the possession o f that gentleman. I was then enabled to describe it briefly in ‘The Ibis.’ I persuaded Major Montagu to allow
me to forward it in his name to the Zoological Society. ' I took charge o f it in November, brought it safely to Calcutta, and
kept a servant of my own to look after it and the specimen of Ceriornis Blythii until they were put on board a steamer. They
were very tame, and fed readily from the hand. They are particularly fond o f the leaves o f lettuce and cabbage. I fed them
with rice and maize.”
Sclater’s Lophophorus cannot be said to be very graceful; the body is thick and heavy, and tile legs short; the head is also large
for the size of the bird, causing it to present a rather stupid appearance, quite different from the game-like heads o f the other
members o f this family, and even o f those to which it is nearest allied. From its not possessing the lengthened crest which is so
characteristic and elegant an appendage to the other two species o f the genus, and also from the peculiar bronze hue of the back, I
have deemed it best to include this one in a separate subgeneric division, under the appellation of Chalcophasis, or Bronze Pheasant.
Top o f head covered by a short recurved green crest. Occiput, cheeks, throat, and entire underparts deep velvety black. Back
of neck red, becoming orauge-yellow on the lower part. Back and wings metallic green, with blue and purple reflections. Shoulders
reddish bronze. Primaries brownish black. Rump white, with narrow black lines running lengthwise in the centre o f the feathers.
Bare skin of face deep blue, covered with spots o f black hair-like feathers. Legs and feet brown. Upper tail-coverts white. Tail
deep chestnut, tipped with white. Bill greenish horn-colour.