f i l i l l â M i H a l l»
Polyplectrum bicalcaratum, Linné.
Vornacular Sames-—[Q»oii-chei-min, (Malay.)]
LTHOUGH we have figured this species, it having
been on more than one occasion sent from Mergui,
I entertain grave doubts whether it really occurs within
our limits. The bird, however, may yet prove to
occur in the higher hills of Southern Tenasscrim,
inland from the now ruined city of that name, which
¿1 have been variously estimated to rise to elevations of
from five to eight thousand feet, but these hills roadless, uninhabited,
and almost impenetrable, remain as yet unexplored.
From almost the southern boundary of Tenasserim to the
extreme south of the Malay Peninsula, it certainly occurs, and
it has been recorded in a doubtful fashion by Raffles from Sumatra,
but I think its occurrence there needs confirmation.
A B S O L U T E L Y NOTHING is known of its habits or nidification,
nor have we any measurements recorded in the flesh.
A MALE measures in the skin about 20'5 inches in length;
wing to the end of the longest primary, 8 inches ; elongated
tertiaries projecting about 0'5 further; tail about i r o ; tarsus,
2'9, with two conspicuous spurs on the back thereof, each nearly
0'5 long ; mid-toe and claw, r 8 ; bill, straight from frontal bone
to tip, IT.
A female similarly measures—
Length, i8'0 ; wing, yo ; the tertiaries in this sex falling short
of the longest primaries ; tail, 9'0 ; tarsus, which has no spurs,
2 ' 4 ; mid-toe and claw, 16 ; bill at front, r o.
The legs and feet are said to be dusky ; the upper mandible
blackish; the lower horny ; the orbital space red.
Some males have only one, and some three instead of two
spurs, on one or both legs.