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XI. On an undescribed Species of the Genus Phasianus. By 

 Mr. Benjamin Leadbeater, F.L.S. 



Read December 2, 1828. 



Th e return of His Excellency the Right Honourable Earl Am- 

 herst from India, has made us acquainted with one of the most 

 splendid examples of the genus Phasianus that has been sub- 

 mitted to the notice of ornithologists for many years past. 



Two males of this new and beautiful species came originally 

 from the mountains of Cochin China, and were presented by the 

 King of Ava to Sir Archibald Campbell, who gave them to the 

 Countess Amherst. Her ladyship retained them in her pos- 

 session about two years, and ultimately succeeded in bringing 

 them both to England alive, but they only survived the voyage 

 a few weeks. 



I propose the name of Phasianus Amherstia (tab. 15.) for this 

 valuable addition to our catalogue, as a tribute due to the distin- 

 guished lady to whom ornithologists are indebted for the know- 

 ledge of this new species ; and I have great pleasure in publicly 

 recording my thanks to her ladyship for the kindness and con- 

 descension with which my request to be allowed to make this 

 bird known to the world through the medium of the Linnean 

 Society, was immediately granted. 



The lovers of science will be further gratified by the know- 

 ledge, that her ladyship's zeal in this single branch of natural 

 history, enabled her to select and bring over nearly 500 species, 



VOL. XVI. s many 



