EUPLOCOMUf ERYTHROPHTHALMUS.
RHFOUS-TAIL PHEASANT.
Ì PIASI ANUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, Raffl. Trans. Linn. So.c. vol. xiii. p. 321.
ALECTROPHASIS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, Gray, List B. Brit. Mus. (1844) p. 26^-rIcl. List Gen. B. (1841) p. 78.
A. PURPUREUS, Gray, .List Gen. B. (1841) p. 78,Temt^'-à
GALLOPHASÌS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. iii. p. 498.
ACOMUS PURPUREUS, Reichenb. Syst. Av. p ^ ^ ^ B
PHASIANUS PURPUREUS, Gray, Ind. Zool, vol. i. pi. 42, fern.
GALLOPHASIS PURPUREUS, Gray, Gen. of B. v&f|iL p. 498, fém.
EUPLOOAMUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, Sclat. Proc. Zool. So'c. (1863) p. 119, sp. 6—Sclat. &Wolf, Zool. Sketch. (1867) pi. 34.—Blyth, Cat.
of B. Asiat. Soc. Beng. p. 245,(1849).-^Gray, List Gall. (18,67) p. 35.
HOUPPIFER DIARDI, Guér; Icon, du Règ. Àn. Ois. pi. 43. f. 2.
ACOMUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, Bon. GompVRend. (1856) p. 879.
EUPLOCAMUS PURPUREUS, G. R. Gray, List Gall. (1867) p .s36.
IIaii. Sumatra; Malayan peninsnldl|l||f
T h is species, together with its ally the E . pyronotus from Borneo, are distinguished from the other members o f this family by
the females possessing, save the colour of the tail-feathers and rump, a similar plumage to the males, instead of ||ïh g ia ttire d in a sombre
suit of brown, as p l t h e case with nearly all the-females of the other species of the Phasianidæ. , The hens o f the Rufous-tailed
Pheasants are also remarkable in having long spurs, for which reason ornithologists very naturally considered them to be males of
another species ; and they consequently had: a different appellation assigned to them, that of pur pur eus, or Purple Pheasant. It is
not an unusual thing for old females of gallinaceous birds to possess spurs ; but even then they are rarely seen so much
developed as are those of the hens of this species; nor is it at all habitual, as seems to be the caseflb the present instance.
Specimens of both sexes were alive in the gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park,, about three years ago;, but
on account of the unfortunate loss of the females, the expectation of continuing the race itfcaptivity was frustrated a t that time.
The Rufous-tail Pheasant is a native of Sumatra and the Malayan peninsula, where it does not appear to be uncommon ;
and skins frequently find their way to Europe among collections of other birds from those, localities.
At the present time there are two individuals alive in the Zoological Gardens a t Regent’s Park ; but they are very wild,
and Mr. Bartlett informs me that they are extremely pugnacious—the female, with her long spurs, being as ready to fight as
the male. So armed, and with the conspicuous red skin oil the face, it is no wonder that for so long she was deemed to be
the male of a distinct species. I am not aware of any instance of this bird having bred in captivity.
The male has the top. of the head, neck, and entire underparts dark blue, with the shafts o f the feathers on the breast white.
Back and wings' blue, marked with zigzag lines of bluish white. Primaries rufous brown, mottled on the inner webs with light
brown, and barred on the outer with whitish. Rump rich fiery red. Upper tail-coverts dark blue. Tail rich buff. Naked skin
o f face red. Bill light horn-colour. Feet and tarsi flesh-colour.
Fanale.—Entire upper parts dark green. Underparts black, with greenish reflections. Bare skin of face red. Tail dark green.
Primaries dark brown. Bill black, or dark horn-colour. Legs and feet lead-colour.