28o ALLENS NATURALISTS LIBRARY. 



Later on he writes : " This bird is rare, and extremely diffi- 

 cult to procure, as the mountain travelling here is far from safe. 

 My chief bird-hunter was nearly murdered and robbed of fifty 

 pounds the other day while in search of Deer and this Phea- 

 sant." 



This species is now frequently brought to this country alive, 

 and the male is one of the handsomest of aviary Pheasants. 



Eggs. — Oval, somewhat pointed at the smaller end ; buff- 

 cream colour, very minutely dotted with white. Measure- 

 ments, 2*4 by 17 inches. 



THE KOKLASS -PHEASANTS. GENUS PUCRASIA. 



Pucrasia, G. R. Gray, List Gen. B. 2nd ed. p. 79 (1841). 



Type, P. mac7'oIop]ia (Lesson). 



Tail composed of sixteen feathers, long and wedge-shaped, 

 the middle pair of feathers rather the longest and about twice 

 as long as the outer pair. Upper taiPcoverts very long, more 

 than half the length of the tail. 



First primary flight-feather consideral)ly shorter than the 

 second, which is about equal to the eighth ; fourth somewhat 

 the longjst. 



Sides of the head feathered ; feathers of the body long and 

 pointed. 



Male with an elongate crest (short in the female) ; the 

 feathers behind the ear-coverts greatly elongate, surpassing the 

 crest in length, and the feet armed with a fairly strong pair of 

 spurs. 



The Koklass Pheasants may be conveniently divided into 

 two groups : 



A. Basal part of the outer tail-feathers mostly black or black 

 and chestnut, never grey (species i to 4, pp. 281-285). 



B. Basal part of the outer taiPfeathers grey (species 5, 6, 

 pp. 285, 286). 



