CA LQ P H A S I S
CALOPHASIS ELLIOTI.
ELLIOT’S PHEASANT.
PH ASI ANUS ELLIOTI, Swinh. Proc. Zool. Soc. '$872) p,
Hab. Mountains near Ningpo, province o f Che-Kiang,■ China ( S w in h o e ) .
T h is magnificent species, upon which Mr. Swinhoe has done me the honour o f bestowing my name, is one of the most interesting,
as it is also one of the móét recent hôvëltiës which that zealous and indefatigable naturalist has made known to science. It is a
native of the mo'untain-range that lies behind Ningpo, in the Chinese province of Che-Kiang, where it represents, to a certain
extent, such Pheasants as Pliasianus torquatus, which inhabit the great tract lying • between the hilly regions and the sea. On
discovering this beautiful bird my friènd immediately notified me of his good fortune, sending at thé same time one of the
feathers from the back, by which. I was enabled to pèrcëive that the species was èntirèly unknown in Europe.
In his paper* read lately before the Zoological Society of London, in which this and some other birds are described, Mr. Swinhoe
writes of tliis Pheasant as follows :— ' , .
“ From the mountainous région # this province (Che-Kiang) I 'have procured a truly beauteous. Pheasant, perhaps the loveliest
of that lovely group. It is smaller than P . torquatus, and has comparatively shorter wings and longer tail. The colouring
of its head and tail recall P . Reeoesii, its coppery back and breast P . Soemmernngii of Japan, and thé glowing maroon oh its
scapulars the Euplocamus SwinJioii of Formosa; but its curiously marked lower back and its white-barred wing are suggested by
no other species of this family to my knowledge* and its white underparts no other true Pheasant possesses. Its mate is a
smaller' bird, and in coloration more of a Grouse than a Pheasant ; r |p t in her black under neck, and in the marks of her lateral
rectrices, she shows her relationship to her' lord. Possessed of so many striking characters, jijfwould be easy to find an
appropriate name for SO marked a species. But on glancing down the list o f Pheasants, Í find that-not one bears the name of
Elliot ; and it Strikes me it would be a wrong, to allow his magnificent-work on the group to close without the figure o f a bird
dedicated to'- himselff I therefore propose to name this firstfruits of my researches in this province Pliasianus ellioti.”
Desiring, equally with myself, that this new species should be illustrated in this work, Mr. Swinhoe a t once forwarded to his
agent in London the male and female, which he haid with much difficulty been able to procure ; and soon after their arrival they
camé into my possession, in perfect Condition, making a most valuable addition to my collection o f these beautiful birds.
Although Mr. Swihlioe has placed this species iii the genus Pliasiams, among the true Pheasants, I am unable to agree with
him (after carefully examining the specimens) in deeming that to be its correct position. In many points it resembles the true
Pheasants ; but in many more this'new form differs entirely from them. The head of the male resembles somewhat those Of tlie
true Pheasants, although I doubt if the naked skin would ever expand into the large conspicuous wattles which form such a
striking mode - of adornment in the members of the genus Pliasianus, while the bill is smaller and the nostrils are only partially
covered by a scale. One of the most remarkable differences perceptible is in the structure and form of the feathers on the lower
part of the rump. In all true Pheasants these are-long,-loose, split, and of a hairy-like texture, very dense ; and they almost, if
not entirely, conceal the upper tail-coverts. Now .the present species exhibits none o f th is; but the feathers of the rump are
rounded, and proceed in regular gradation down tlie back, and form an abrupt distinct line ju st above the upper tail-coverts*
leaving them entirely exposed. Here our new bird resembles the members of thé genus Euplocamus, and alsq* ' to a certain
extent! the subgeneric forms Graphophasianus, Syrmalicus, and Catreus. Another point of divergence is the colouring of the wing,
which, in its white scapulars and distinct bar* comes nearer the style of the members of the genus Euplocamus than that of any
Other kind of Pheasant a t present known. Its lengthened spur* sharp a t the point, also brings'it near the species of the genus just
mentioned, and is unlike any species o f Pliasiams, all of which have short blunt spurs, in most instances but little more than knobs.
But the female exhibits, even to a greater degree than the male, characters not found in any species of Pheasant belonging
to existing recognized genera, and, in her relationship to him, differs in a more marked manner than is to be witnessed
among tlie females of any species of the genus Pliasianus. One of these characters (and one which would be apt to first
attract the eye of the observer) is a large bare place of scarlet skin upon the face, which is apparently clearly visible all the
year ;- for the specimen was shot in December, a t which time it is most likely that any bare skin or wattle would be s run to
its smallest dimensions. This is not found upon the female ¿ f any species of the genus Pkasianus, although the hen of the
subgenéric form Catreus exhibits it. In the general colour of the body the female of ' this new form resembles very much a
Grouse; the tail is shorter than are those in the same sex of other Pheasants, while the under coverts are very like those o
a Puera s; and the tarsi have a well-marked indication of a spur..