J.Wolf i. J.Smil del fclith.
PH A S SA N U 'A F Í I ( M S A N «
M & N Hanhart ii
1*11 ASLAN US FORÍLOSANUS, —
FORMOSAN PHEASANT.
PHASIANUS FORMOSANUS, Elliot, Proc. Zool. Soc. (187.0) p. 406.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds (1870J, p. 258, no. 9581.
H ab. Island of Formosa ( S w in h o e ) .
T h is is the common Pheasant o f the island of Formosa, whence examples were brought by Mr. Swinhoe and placed in my hands
for description. It resembles the common P. torquatus from China, but differs from that species by many striking characteristics
.exhibited in both sexes. All the specimens brought by Mr. Swinhoe precisely resembled the types'figured in the accompanying
Pla te; and he assures me that they agree with all o f this form found •upon the island. The female, by her dark, almost black
plumage, can readily be distinguished from that of P. torquatus.
The Formosan Pheasant, although undoubtedly of the same origin as the P. torquatus, has, from the physical causes operating
upon it, peculiar to its island home, undergone in the course of time the changes which now present themselves to us, and which
make it readily recognizable wherever seen. The true torquatus of China is not known in Formosa. In its habits arid economy
the present bird resembles its Chinese relative. Very good sport can be had with these birds, I am informed, as they are very
abundant in the island.
Male.—Forehead dark g re en ; stripe over each eye, commencing at the end of the green spot on the forehead, and reaching to
the occiput, white; top of head and nape light g ré en ; throat and neck metallic green, blue in some lights;, narrow white collar
interrupted in front, passing round the lower part of the neck; upper part of back yellowish buff, basal half of the feathers black,
except along the shaft, where it is buff, and the outer edges and a large triangular spot a t the tip brilliant green; scapulars
broad, with their centres yellowish white, mottled with black a t the basal end, but perfectly free from mottling elsewhere; this
separated from the broad chestnut margin by a line of black; secondaries dark brown, mottled with buff and black,-, and very
broadly margined with dark chestnut on the upper ones, the edges of the rest yellowish brown; primaries dark brown, irregularly
barred with yellowish white on both webs; back and rump light green, mottled with buff and dark green. Upper part of breast
deep rich red, purple in certain lights, margined with dark blue, and a triangular spot of the same in the centre at the tip :
flanks white, the ends of the feathers dark metallic blue;' abdomen dark green, separated from the white of the flanks by a line
of deep chestnut, composed of the inner webs of the lowest flank-feathers. Thighs black; under tail-coverts red. Central
tail-feathers pale green in the middle, chestnut on the edges; the green barred with broad black bands close together, these
changing to chestnut on the edges; lateral feathers similar, but mottled with buff and black on the inner webs, and terminal
portion of the outer web without bars; bill pule greenish yellow; tarsi and feet brownish; irides white.
Female.—Head pale buff, much blotched with black on the crown, and rosy on the cheeks ; upper part of back dark chestnut,
with a terminal irregular bar of black, and tipped with white; rest of upper parts black, the feathers margined with reddish buff,
and the shafts. buff; tail buff, closely barred with black, and mottled on the edges with the same; wings lighter than the back,
the buff being more prominent, but similarly marked; primaries dark brown, and barred with yellowish buff like the male; upper
part of breast dark buff, with a reddish tinge, some of the feathers with black longitudinal lin e s ; rest of underparts dark buff,
faintly mottled with brown.
The figures are life-size.