'2G niltl) (iVLLERY. 



[Case I-'!.] The Koklass Plieasants (Pucrusia) include lialf-a-dozen species found 

 in various parts of the Himalaya, Tibet, and China. The males have a 

 much longer crest than the females, and the i'eathei's behind the ears 

 arc greatly developed, forming two long tufts surpassing the crest in 

 Iciigtii. The Common KokLiss Pheasant (P. nmcrohpha) (113) is 

 eoninion in the Western Himalaya from Kumaon to Chamba, and 

 generally found singly or in pairs. Its tlcsli is said to be superior 

 to that of every other Hill-Pheasant. 



Tlic Firc-backcd Pheasants, rc])rescnted by two small groups each 

 containing tliree species, are natives of the dense damp evergreen 

 forests of the Indo-Malayan countries, Sumatra, and Borneo. Of the 

 forms without a crest an example will be found in the Bornean Crest- 

 less Fireback (Aconuis p>/ronoli(s) (114). The females in this genus 

 are remarkable for their entirely black plumage and from the fact 

 that their legs arc ai'med witli a pair of strong spurs as perfectly 

 developed as those of the male. 



Two examples of the crested form are exhibited, the Malayan 

 Crested Fire-back [Loplmra riifa) (115) and Diard's Fire-back 

 [L. diarcli) (116), both remarkably handsome s})ecics. The males are 

 provided with a pair of strong spurs, but tiie females are devoid of 

 these weapons. 



The great Feared- Pheasants [CrussoptUoii) (]\1, 118) arc inhabitants 

 of the high wooded mountains of Tibet and China, ascending to a 

 height of al)Out 12,(100 feet above sea-level. They are sociable in their 

 haljits, and during tlie autumn and winter are generally met with in 

 large Hocks. Like the Common Pheasant, they pass most of their time 

 on the ground searching for seeds, roots, and insects, and at night 

 roost in company on the pine-trees. The legs of the male are armed 

 with short stout spurs, and, unlike the majority of the Pheasants, the 

 l)lumage is alike in both sexes. The feathers forming the ear-coverts 

 arc much lengthened and pure white in all the live species known. 



A remarkable Bornean species will be seen in Buhver's Wattled 

 Pheasant [Lohiophasis b/tlwcri) (119). The male has the head almost 

 devoid of feathers and ornamented with three pairs of blue wattles, and 

 the beautiful white tail is composed of no lc^s than o2 feathers, by 

 far the largest number found in any Game-Bird. The female has 

 2S tail-feathers, or two pairs less, and the head is feathered and not 

 ornamented with wattles. This species has only been met with in 

 the lower mountain-forests of Sarawak, and it is essentially a ground 

 bird, and seldom seen on the wing. 

 [Case 14.] Of the INIoonal Pheasants [Lopliophorus] four difl'ereut species are 

 known, all being natives of the elevated forests of the Himalaya or 

 Western China. In all, the pinmaijc of the males is magniticcnt, but 



