THE BIRDS OF INDIA. 22 5 



to this bird, signifies many-spurred, and is justified by 

 the fact of its having two or more spurs on each leg. It 

 is found in several parts of India, as well as in the 

 Moluccas, and even, it is said, in the Soudan. 



The head is surmounted by a crest, the points of which 

 have a slight forward inclination, and, together with the 

 head, neck, and breast, is of a very deep glossy violet 

 blue colour ; over the eye there is a white streak, pointed 

 where it arises in front, close to the base of the upper 

 mandible, and broadening towards the side of the back part 

 of the head ; there is another white spot below and a 

 little to the back of the eye, and yet another, somewhat 

 indistinct, about the middle of the side of the neck. The 

 back is brown, with a number of wavy lines of a paler 

 shade of tiie same colour, and the wing coverts and second- 

 aries are bright sky blue, tipped with black. The brown 

 tail is covered with numerous little yellowish white spots, 

 and at the free extremity of each feather is a shining 

 green spot of an oval shape, around which extends a 

 narrow wavy black line, and beyond that a broader one of 

 yellowish brov/n. Near the end of the feather is a black 

 mark, and the extremity is fawn. 



In total length, the polyplectron measures about 20 

 inches. 



It is capable of domestication, appears to be as hardy as 

 the ordinary pheasant, and has in many aviaries bred quite 

 freely, while the young are not more difficult to rear than 

 young pheasants, and less so than peafowl. 



