" A closed wing measures I2'5 inches ; the tarsus, 4"I2 ; and
the central-toe, 2C2. The bill has the same length, whether
taken from the gape or from the front, and is three-eighths of an
inch shorter than the head, the latter being two inches complete.
The bill is very strong, with the general characters of that
of Lopliophorns, the tomial edge of the upper mandible being
even more scarped, and furnished with a small tooth-like
festoon ; its base is nude. The head and throat are clad in
feathers, and simple, but the entire cheeks, from nostril to
occiput, arc void of plumes, being occupied by the typical red
and papillated skin of the Pheasant tribe, and in all that extent
of development, which more especially characterises the Indian
Kah'ches [leucomelanus), and the painted and Amherstian species
of China. Like the true Pheasant (colcliieus), our bird has no
crest of any kind, though the feathers occupying the top of the
head are of a peculiar kind, being short, velvety, thick set,
erect, with their slightly discomposed and square points recurved
a little to the front.
" The wings have no peculiarity ; they are short, stiff, bowed,
and rounded as usual, the sixth feather being the longest. The
very ample tail is most remarkable for the breadth of the
plumes. Its length is moderate, nor is there any of the extra
elongation and narrowing of the central feathers which characterise
the typical Pheasants. There are iS caudal plumes, regularly
and considerably graduated throughout, and the general
form of the tail is broadly convex, without any symptom of the
Gallinc compression and curve. The legs and feet are well
adapted for rapid movement on the ground, and have a form
and proportion very similar to those of leucomelanus and
satyra. The tarsi are nude, and biscaled before and behind, but
the hinder scales are smaller than the fore ones. The sides of
the tarsi are papillo-reticulate. The spur is sharp and curved.
The lateral toes are equal, the central long, and the hind short
and raised, as usual. The nails are long, and possess but little
curve.
" It remains only to notice the plumage of the bird, which
constitutes, indeed, its most remarkable feature. The plumage,
then, upon the whole body is very ample, (but not at all pointed,)
unglossed, and wholly dishevelled, so as to remind one of the
Struthious family.
" It is distinguished amongst all its congeners by its ample
fringe-like plumage, the dishevelled quality of which is communicated
even to the central tail-feathers, the very broad and
equal webs of which are quite separated, and curve outwards,
the sides, besides, being adorned by a fine gloss.
" T h e general colour of our bird is bluish-hoary, paler and
tinted yellow on the lower surface ; crown of the head, black and
velvety ; great alar and caudal plumes dusky or black, more or
less glossed with changeable blue, especially the tail-feathers ;
legs and cheek-pieces intense sanguine ; bill dull ochrcous red ;
iris brown."
Mr. Hodgson's original notes, recorded with his own hand on
the reverse of the plate that wc have copied, differ in some
particulars, and I reproduce them below.
Neither in figure, nor description, nor notes, is any indication
of, or allusion to, the ear-tufts, so conspicuous in the other species
of this genus, to be detected, and considering that Mr. Hodgson
received the bird apparently in the flesh, this is remarkable if this
species really possesses these tufts. If it does not, all idea of
its identity with any other known species may be at once dismissed.
These arc Mr. Hodgson's notes. I have italicised figures
and remarks which differ from, or are supplementary to, those
of the printed description :—
" Length, 38 ; bill to gape, 775 ; tail, 19-5 ; wing, I2'5 ; tarsi to
sole, J'S/; centre-toe and nail, J ' J I ; hind do., 125.
" Bill to gape equal to head, strong, broadly convexed, but
inclining to pent form, in the huge overlaying upper mandible
whose tomial edge has an accipitrinc festoon, a little dentate
even ; cere, nude, medial ; narcs, basal, lateral, shaded above
by scale ; eye piece large, as in Euplocamus ; wings, medial
rounded, bowed ; 6th quill longest, 1st, 2'12 inch less, rest graduated
in diminishing scries ; tail ample, broad convex, inclined to
arcuate form ; 20 plumes, which are equally graduated throughout,
and have broad open webs and obtuse round ends, the uppermost,
or mid plumes hiding all the rest ; graduation to <Pj inches
in extremes ; legs and feet like Euplocamus ; tarsi nude, high,
biscaled afore, also behind, but smaller, reticulate to sides;
acutely spurred ; toes medial ; acropodia scaled; laterals equal ;
nails, obtuse"
THE PLATE is a very exact and faithful copy of the original
done by Miss Herbert.