13G Mr. E. W. Oates on a new Species 0/ Polyplectron. 



XII. — On a new Species 0/ Polyplectron. 

 By Eugene W. Oates, F.Z.S. 



(Plate V.) 



I PROPOSE to characterize an apparently new species of Poly- 

 plectron from Upper Burma under the name of 



Polyplectron helen^, sp. nov. (Plate V.) 

 Affinis P. chinqui, sed plumarum ocellis magis violaceis, hand 

 fulvo circumdatis, fascia superiore et altera inferiore 

 albis praeditis, caudae ocellis minoribus et violaceo chaly- 

 beoque nitentibus, nee metallice viridibus fulvo circum- 

 datis, distil] guendus. Long. tot. 24", al, 8", caud. 12", 

 tars. 3". 

 This new species comes nearest to P. chinquis, but is 

 readily distinguishable from that Pheasant by striking cha- 

 racters. The ocelli on the back, scapulars, tertiaries, and 

 upper wing-coverts are smaller and fewer in number. The 

 ocelli are deep violet, shading into black at the edges, and 

 are subquadrate, not round. Instead of being surrounded by 

 a buff annular ring, each ocellus is bounded both above and 

 below by a white band, the lower band also forming the tip 

 of the feather. 



The ocelli on the tail are smaller and of a deep violet, not 

 of a metallic green. In the case of these, as with those on 

 the back, there is no annular buff ring round them. 



The white marks on the back and rump are smaller and 

 triangular in shape, not quadrate or round, as is the case in 

 P. chinquis. The chin, throat, and entire fore neck are 

 white, whereas in the other species only the chin and throat 

 are white. 



A skin of this Peacock Pheasant, now in the British Mu- 

 seum, was sent to me some years ago by Colonel Lowndes, 

 Political Resident at Bhamo, in Northern Burmah. It was 

 probably procured on the hills which form the boundary 

 between China and Burmah, and wdiich are known by the 

 name of the Kaehyeu Hills. 



The known species of Peacock Pheasants are now seven 

 in number, distributed as follows : — 



