348 AYES. 



Common Peacock.) A species in which the head is ornament- 

 ed with an aigrette of vertical feathers widened at the tips. 

 This superb bird, originally from the north of India, was intro- 

 duced into Europe by Alexander. Its magnificent plumage is 

 even surpassed in brilliancy by that of the wild ones. A rich 

 blue supersedes the gold-green specks along their back, and on 

 their wings; their tail also is more plentifully furnished with 

 feathers. 



The Pavo spiciferus^ improperly styled by Linnaeus P. muti- 

 cus, for it also has spurs, is a distinct species. The feathers of 

 its aigrette are long and narrow; its neck is not blue, but green, 

 watered and gilt; the tail almost as magnificent as that of the 

 common species.(l) Vieill. Galer. 202; Shaw, Nat. Misc. 641. 

 Another species, 



P. hicalcaratus and ihibetanus, Gm.; L'Eperonnier^ Enl. 492 

 and 493; Vieill. Galer. pi. 203 (The Chinquis), is much 

 smaller, and has a short thick tuft on the head; each of the 

 tarsi of the male is armed with two spurs; the coverts of the 

 tail, which are not so long, are marked with double spots, and 

 those of the scapulars with simple ones.(2) A neighbouring 

 species. Polypi, albocellatum, T. is marked with simple blue 

 spots, surrounded by a whitish circle. A third, Pol. chalcurum, 

 T. has blue quills, but its coverts are only marked with fawn- 

 coloured and black stripes. 



LoPHOPHORus, Tern. 



The head surmounted with an aigrette similar to that of the Pea- 

 cock, and a flat tail, the coverts of which are not prolonged, other- 

 wise resembling the preceding birds in the lustre of the metallic 

 colours of the male. The circumference of the eye, and even the 

 cheeks, are naked as in the Pheasants, and the tarsi are armed with 

 strong spurs. A species is known from the mountains of the north 

 of India, 



L. refulgens, T.; Phasianus impeyanus, Lath. Syn. Supp. pi. 

 114; Monaul, Sonnin.; Vieill. Gal. 208. Black; size of a Tur- 

 key; the aigrette and dorsal feathers of changeable colours, 

 reflecting tints of gold, copper, sapphire, and emerald; quills of 



(1) It was only known, for a long time, by a bad drawing from Japan, in the six- 

 teenth century, (Aldrov., II, av., oo, 34,) but Messrs Duvaucel and Diard having 

 sent several of the birds from Sumatra to France, M. Vieillot has given his figure 

 from them. 



(2) M. Temminck makes a genus of it by the name of Poltplecthum; Vieillot 

 has changed it into DiPLErrnox. 



