81. YIEILLOT'S FIREBACK 

 PHEASANT. 



Lophura rufa^ (Raffles). 



MALE : — Upper plumage black with the 

 exception of the lower back and rump, 

 which are maroon chestnut. 



FEMALE : — Upper plumage chestnut with 

 fine black vermiculations. 



Vernacular Names : — None known. 



Vieillot's Fireback-Pheasant has been 

 observed only in the extreme south of 

 Tenasserim at Bankasoon and Maliwun. 

 The proper home of this species is the 

 Malay Peninsula, Siam and Sumatra. 



The late Mr. W. Davison had excep- 

 tional opportunities for studying the habits 

 of this Pheasant when he was in Tenas- 

 serim. He remarked : — " These birds 

 frequent the thick evergreen forests in 

 small parties of five or six ; usually there 

 is only one male in the party, the rest 

 being females, but on one or two occasions 

 I have seen two males together; some- 

 times the males are found quite alone. I 



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