ftTB! lam a im
EUPLOCAMUS NOBILIS.
BOMEAiS FIRE-BACK.
EUPLOCAMUS NOBILIS, Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863) p, 119, pi. xvi.—Gray, List Gall. (1867) p. 35.
Hab. Borneo.
T h is fine species of Fire-back Pheasant was first described b y Dr. Sclater in the ‘Zoological Proceedings ’ for 1 8 6 3 , from the
specimens then contained in the British Museum. It is a larger species than its ally, the E . ignitus, from Malacca &c.,- and is
easily distinguishable from it by the chestnut of the lower part, this being, in the other species, of a lustrous blue-black. Since
this bird -was made known to ornithologists a few examples have been received alive, some of which are at the present time to be
seen in different gardens on tbe Continent. It is, however, a very- rare bird in collections, and I am not aware that it has
ever bred in captivity. The female resembles very closely that of E . ignitus. I regret that we are without any information
whatever of the economy and habits of this species, its introduction to science being too recent, and the country it inhabits too
difficult to explore to enable naturalists to learn much about it. It represents in Borneo-..the E . ignitus, long known to
naturalists, and, as is sometimes not the case with allied species, is fully as beautiful in plumage as, and equal in size to its
relative. The males of both species are armed with very long sharp spurs, and, being pugnacious, no doubt use them frequently
with fatal effect,
Male.—Large naked space around the eyes, extending from the bill, deep b lu e; a line of short black feathers from the base o f the
upper mandible to the occiput; crest on the top of the head, thick and bunchy, blue-black. Neck, upper part of breast, and back
lustrous black, with blue and green reflections. Wings brownish black, secondaries and tertials margined with greenish; primaries
brown. Lower part of breast and abdomen golden chestnut. Rump crimson, exceedingly fiery in certain lights. Upper and
under tail-coverts very long, black, with metallic-green margins. Centre of abdomen and thighs black. Tail black, four central
feathers light tan-colour. Bill horn-colour; feet' and tarsi flesh-colour.
Female.—Top of head, neck, and entire upper parts red, finely mottled with black on rump and upper tail-coverts. Feathers
of the upper part of the breast red at tip, black at base, with their lateral margins white. Rest o f underparts blackish brown
in the centre, with broad white margins. Centre of abdomen white. Tail black. Bare skin of face red. Chin and upper part of
throat white. Feet and legs red.
The male is of the natural size; female reduced.