Sir R. Schomburgk on Diardigallus Crawfurdi. 383 



A communication was also read from Sir Robert Schomburgk, 

 H.M. Consul-General for Siam, dated Bangkok, August 15th, stating 

 that a male of the splendid Pheasant Diardigallus Crawfurdi was 

 still alive in his possession, and in excellent health ; and giving the 

 following description of the female bird, of which he also sent a 

 Chinese drawing and some feathers : — 



" Cere oblong, of a bright-red colour, such as it is in the male, set 

 with short hair-like feathers of a blackish colour, disposed in rows 

 following the cere in its outline ; eye black, with a golden-coloured 

 iris ; bill horn-coloured. The crown of the head, and the short 

 feathers under the chin, of a slate-colour, but otherwise a reddish 

 brown is the prevailing colour ; of such a tint is likewise the mantle, 

 only somewhat darker, and the feathers are speckled with black ; 

 those of the throat and breast are lighter in tint, and frequently 

 margined at their ends with white to the extent of 2 lines. 



" Primaries and scapulars of a dark slate-colour, almost black, 

 barred transversely at intervals with bands of white speckled with 

 black. These bars do not possess regular outlines. The large or 

 middle tail-feathers are marked in a similar manner ; the lower or 

 side tail-feathers are of a reddish brown. 



" The thighs are clothed with dark-brown feathers ; below the 

 knee the feet are naked and of a bright red colour, similar to the 

 cere. There is no trace of spurs upon the leg. 



" I give the measurements taken from what I believe to be the 

 oldest of the two hens in my possession : — 



ft. in. tenths. 



Length from tip of bill to end of middle tail- 

 feather 1 6 



Height 10 5 



Length of tail 9 



of legs 7 4 



from the foot or tarsus to thigh 4 



Length of foot from the tip of the middle claw 



to that of the hind toe 3 5 



of the large or middle toe 2 



of wing from shoulder to end of largest 



primary quill 10 



Depth of wing 4 2 



Circumference over the crown of the head and 



round the region of the eyes 5 



Length of cere 2 



Depth 1 



Length of bill 1 2 " 



Sir Robert Schomburgk added that Crawfurd's drawing of the 

 male bird alluded to by Mr. Gould in his account of this bird in 

 the ' Birds of Asia,' " although stiff, was otherwise good," and that 

 the habitat of this Pheasant was now fully ascertained to be the Shan 

 States to the east of Kieng-mai, at Muang Nan, Muang Phi, &c. 



The following letter, addressed to the Secretary by Dr. J. Shortt, 



