EUPLOCAMUS L I N E A T Ü S
EUPfflOCAMUS LINEATÜS.
LINEATED PHEASANT.
PHASIANUS LINEATUS, Vigors, Proc. Zobl. Soc. (1831) p. 24.—Jerd. B. of India, vol. iii. p. 631.—Beavan, Ibis (1868), p. 381 —Lath. Ind.
Orn. 2nd edit.
P. REYNAUDII, Less, in Belanger’s Voy. Zool. pis. 8, 9, p. 276.
P. FASCIATM M'Clell. Journ. N. H. vol. i: pi. 3.
LINEATED PHEASANT, Lath. Gen. Hist. Birds, vol. viii. p. 201.
GALLOPHASIS LINEATUS, Gray, List of Gen. B.. (1841) p. 78.
EUPLOCAMUS LINEATUS, Blyth, Cat. of B. Mus. Asiat. Soc. Beng. p. 244 (1849).—Sclat. Wolf’s Zool. Sketch. (1867) 2nd ser. pli 38__
Id. Proc. Zool. Soc.. (1863) p. 120.—Gray, List Gall. (1867) p. 34.—Blyth, Ibis (1867), p. 153.
GALLOPHASIS FASCIATUS, Gray, Gen. B. voLiii. p. 498 (1845).
GRAMMATOPTILUS LINEATUS, Reichenb, Syst. Av. p. 30.
GENNiEUS LINEATUS, Wagl. Isis (1832), p. 1228.
EUPLOCAMUS CUVIERI, Temm. Plan. CoL vol. v. pi. 1 (hybrid between E. lineatus and E. Morsfieldty.
H ab. Burmese countries : Arakan, Tenasserim, Pegu (B ly th ) ; Bootan ? (G ray| | Hilly regions o f Burmah ( J e r d o n ) .
T h e species apf Pheasants which form the Kalleege group, of which: 'the present is one,, are very closely, allied to each other ; and
in the case of the E . lineatus and E . Horsfieldi they grade imperceptibly one into another, through a succession of varieties existing
in a wild state in the country connecting their proper habitats. The Lineated Pheasant is a forest-loving bird, and is found
chiefly in Tenasserim, Pegu, and Siam. The specimens from the latter country are somewhat larger than those further north, but
cannot by any means be considered distinct. ' This species was first 'introduced into ’ England in’ 1864,. and, since it has been
an inMbitant of the Regent’s Park Gardens, has bred seven different times ; so that we may consider that it can be easily
Acclimatized in Europe. I have noticed the males in spring suddenly straighten themselves and flap the wings against their sides,
making a kind of drumming sound, which may be heard a t some little distance. Captain Beavan says of this bird, “ Dr. Jerdon
mentions the singular drumming noise made by the male. With respect to P/iasianus lineatus, which is, in my opinion, a true
Kalleege, I may mention that the Burmese take advantage of this habit of the birds, and by imitating it with a rough kind of
machine catch numbers of the latter species. It is, like the crow of a. cpck.' a kind o f challenge . uttered by one male to excite
another to battle—‘ in defiance of his fellows.’ ” Blytb, in his commentary on Dr.’ Jerdon’s ‘ Birds of India,’ says that “ the
Lophophorus Cuvieri, Temm. (PI. Col. vol.. v. pi. 1), represents one of the hybrid race referred to, between G. lineatus and G. Horsfieldi.
These completely pass one into the other in the province of Arakan, whence some living specimens have been received by the
Zoological Society. In like manner G. albocristatus and G. melanonotus interbreed in the intermediate province o f Nipal, G. melanonotus
being the species inhabiting Sikhim and Butan, where most assuredly G. lineatus is unknown, the latter inhabiting southward of
the range of G. Horsfieldi, i.e . in Pegu and the Tenasserim provinces, where I have personally observed it in the forests.”
Mr. Blyth informs me that the natives snare a cock bird o f this species, and secure him near the jungles, when his cries
serve to bring the males who may be within hearing into the open, looking for their antagonist, whom they immediately attack,
thus giving the concealed gunner an opportunity to shoot them ; and in this way many birds are obtained. Of course it is only
the cocks which are procured, the hens never paying any attention to the crowing, but remaining quietly in the forest. The present
species must be regarded as a Silver Pheasant, and in the arrangement of the family occupies a position near to the Euplocamus
nycthemerus, to which it is closest allied.
Male.—Head with a long occipital black crest. Rest of head, neck, and entire upper parts black, finely vermiculated with white.
Inner web of middle tail-feathers buff ; outer black, crossed with white zig-zag lines ; rest o f tail-feathers black, with diagonal white
lines. Primaries brown, crossed with fine white lines. Breast and underparts bluish black. Centre of flank-feathers white. Bare
skin o f face red. Feet red.
Female.— Head and occipital crest dark brown, mottled with light brown ; neck and upper part of back light brown, with V-shaped
white marks near the end of the feathers, divided from the brown edges by a line of black; rest of back, wings, and upper
tail-coverts greyish brown, finely mottled with blackish brown. Chin whitish brown. Breast and flanks rufous brown ; shafts and
centre of feathers white with black lines around their edges. Abdomen and rest of parts black, the feathers tipped with chestnut.
Central tail-feathers buff, mottled with black on inner webs; remainder black, irregularly crossed with white lines. Bill, upper
mandible black; lower horn-colour. Feet lead-colour.