150 Mr. J. Gould on a Japanese Pheasant. 
XVIII.—Notice of a Japanese Pheasant. 
By Joun Govup, Esq., F.R.S. &e. 
To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 
GENTLEMEN, 
Like other little-explored countries, the distant island of 
Japan now and then affords the ornithologist an opportunity 
of describing a new species pertaining to his favourite science ; 
and that it will continue to do so for some time to come is, I 
think, more than probable. With this brief remark I beg to 
record in your ‘ Annals’ a short notice of a bird which I think 
may hereafter be regarded as an additional species of the family 
Phasianidee. 
In affinity it is very closely related to the P. Semmeringi 
(Graphophasianus Semmeringiit of Reichenbach and Bonaparte : 
see the latter’s “Tableaux paralléliques de l’ Ordre des Gallinacés,” 
in the ‘Comptes rendus de |’Académie des Sciences’ for 1856), 
is of the same size and form, but is far more beautiful than 
any of the examples of that species I have seen. The dif- 
ferences, which are very striking, consist in the feathers of 
the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts being broadly margined 
with white, while the brilliant crimson which occupies the 
centre of the tip is far more fiery; in the flank feathers and 
greater wing-coverts being bordered with greyish white, in 
the ground-colour of the tail being cinnamon-brown, and the 
narrow bars, which are deep buff in P. Semmeringii, being 
greyish white and communicating a very marked appearance 
to the tail when spread. Some specimens are of the same size 
as P. Semmeringii, while others are rather smaller. That the 
peculiar features I have pointed out are not due to age, there 
can be no doubt; for I have examples of both birds which have 
long spurs—an evidence of their being mature. 
If this bird should prove to be a new species, 1 would pro- 
pose for it the name of Phasianus (Graphophasianus) seintillans ; 
if it should not, a notice of its remarkable differential features 
is worthy of record in the ‘ Annals.’ 
I beg to remain, 
Gentlemen, 
Yours faithfully, 
Joun GouLp. 
26 Charlotte St., Bedford Square, W.C. 
Jan. 24, 1866. 
