Orossoptilum tibetanum, Hodgson.
Vernacular Namoa.— [Bhote Dafe, Nepal.]
a
H I S is another species which could hardly claim to be
included in the Game Birds of India. Hodgson obtained
the unique specimen of this striking bird
(which now graces the national collection) in Nepal
it is true, but it had been brought in by an envoy
who had been to Pekin ; he does not appear to have
been questioned as to where he met with the species,
and it is impossible to say now where he did get it.*
I however wished to reproduce exactly (as I have done)
Mr. Hodgson's original drawing, taken from the fresh bird (so
unlike the lovely fancy plate in Grey's Genera), and his full original
description, now only to be met with in an old volume of
the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, long since out
of print.
I t has been surmised that this species is identical with that
discovered by David, at Moupin, and named Crossoptilum
drouyni by Verreaux, but all the specimens of this latter as yet
obtained consistently differ in some important particulars from
Hodgson's type.
IT MAY be well to note that in all these Eared-Pheasants, and
there are at least two other known species (C. mantclmricmn and
aurilum), the females only differ from the males in wanting
spurs.
Mr. Hodgson's description is as follows :—
" The length, from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail,
is from 38 to 40 inches, of which the bill is V62, and the tail
19 to 20 inches.
" But note what Colonel Tickell remarked in the FicUl, March 3, 1866, p. 170 :—
" Next in order to the Moonal should come the Crossoptilon, or Snow Pheasant, of
which two species have been discovered, C. aurilum and C. tibetanum, They are
fine stately birds, with a pure white plumage, and large satin green tails ; but my
knowledge of them is limited to the inspection of a stuffed skin of C. tibetanum. in
the possession of some Hhutias who were passing through Nepal on their way to the
plains in 1840." If this is to be relied on, the birds may come from nearer Nepal
than has generally been surmised.