B "AIL *
THAUMALEA AM II EMSTLE.
LADY AMHERST’S PHEASANT.
PH ASIAN US AMHERSTLE, Leadb. Linn. Trans, t^lf xvi. p. 129.—Temm. Plan. Col. |jpl. v.
THAUMALEA AMHERSTLE, Wagl. Isis, (1832) p.'l 228.—Gray,;List'Birds Brit. Mus. (1844) p. 24.—Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863) p. 117.
sp. 2, and£(1870) p. 468-—Blyth, Cat. Birds Mus! Asiat. Soc. Beng. p. 246.—Gould, Birds of Asia, part xviii. (1866).^Bonap. Comp.
Rend. (1856) p. 879.^S^inh.*iPcoc. Zool. Soc, (1863) p. 307.
CHRYSOLOPHUS AMHERSTLE, Gray, List Gall. (1867) p. 29. sp, 1.
EPOMIA AMHERSTII, Hodgs. Gray’s Zool. Misc.% 85 (1844).
H ab. ■ China : bordering on Eastern Thibet ( S w in h o e ) ; Yunan to Province of Setchuen ( S cla t er ) .
T h is remarkable bird, constituting the second species of the genus Thaumalea, distinguished from all other Pheasants by the presence of
a largely developed ruff, borne only by the males, was procured in Cochin-China first by Sir Archibald Campbell, who received two males
from the King of Arva; these were presented to the Countess Amherst, who succeeded in bringing both birds alive to England, where,
however, they only survived a few weeks. Mr. Benjamin Leadbeater described the species in a paper read at a meeting of the Linnean
Society, and dedicated it to Lady Amherst. The male is possessed of magnificent plumage of strongly contrasting colours, and is one of
the most beautiful and conspicuous of the Phasianidm. For a long period these two males (one of which became the property of the Earl
of Derby, and is now in the Derby Museum at Liverpool, the other remaining in the family of Earl Amherst) were the oujy representatives
of this splendid bird in Europe y,,-$j.ut of late years, through the efforts of the Zoological Society of London and other kindred societies, a
number of other examples of both sexes have been introduced b.oth in England and on the Continent, so that we may expect that in a short
time it will no longer be rare among us.
As an ornament for the aviary, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant cannot be surpassed, being more strikingly beautiful than its relative" th ^
Golden Pheasant, so long, known to u s ; aud, like that species, it appears readily to accommodate itself to confinement.
Being an1 inhabitant of comparatively cold countries, there should be no difficulty in acclimatizing it in England; and it would certainly
be a most desirable addition to parks and preserves.
Male.—Head, throat, and upper part of breast dark blue, green in some lights ; a lengthened crest, rich crimson, tipped with yellowish
white. Ruff white, the feathers margined with dark green, and lines of light green within them. Back bright green, each feather with, a
broad margin of dark green. Primaries dark brown ; secondaries and rest of wings dark blue, with greenish reflections, the feathers with
black margins. Rump-feathers brown a t base, then green, anil then golden yellow, this last colour being the most conspicuous; Tail-
coverts brown at base, then green aricl white, terminating in'scarlet. Abdomen and flanks white. Middle tail-feathers light grey, crossed
with bars of green, and mottled with black; lateral feathers brown and greyish white on the outer webs, crossed with wavy bars of black,
inner mottled with black and white; Bare skin of face dark biuiet. Iris straw-yellow. Bill pale greenish. Feet and tarsi bluish lead-
colour.
Female.—Very similar in appearance to the hen of the Golden Pheasant. Head and upper parts rich chestnut-brown, with bars of dark
brown, these being much broader on the wings. .Flanks yellowish brown; barred with dark brown. Throat and middle of breast buffy
vvhite. Tail brown, barred and mottled with dark brown. Bare skin of the, face quite res,trictedy blue (like that of the male). Bill brown.
Feet and tarsi lead-colour.