166 THE ARGUS PHEASANT, OR GIGANTIC ARGUS. 



also in those of Batavia, by the Baron Cuvier, but 

 from imperfect specimens. Dr Latham collects the 

 information of his predecessors, and that afforded to 

 him by Dr Buchanan, and his figure of the Malay 

 Peacock, evidently this bird, is taken from General 

 Hardwick's drawings ; the description in Sonnini's 

 edition of Buffon is extracted from the Philosophi- 

 cal Transactions. M. Temminck appears to have 

 been the first to have described this bird, from a se- 

 ries of specimens received from Batavia, where, with 

 some other birds of splendid plumage, they form an 

 article of commerce, and are exported as ornaments 

 to different parts of dress, screens, or drapery. It 

 is a native of Sumatra, probably some others of the 

 Indian islands, but principally of the peninsula of 

 Malacca ; and although said, generally by ornitholo- 

 gical writers, to inhabit China and Chinese Tartary, 

 there exists no proof of specimens having been 

 brought from thence. 



In size the Argus is not larger than an ordi- 

 nary fowl, but the length to the end of the two long 

 tail feathers, is five feet three inches, these last be- 

 ing of themselves three feet eight inches. It is im- 

 possible to convey any idea of the markings and 

 blending of the shades on many parts of this bird, 

 and the following description will serve as only an 

 indication of the colours. The throat, the anterior 

 part of the neck, and the cheeks, are naked, or nearly 

 so, having only a few black hairs dispersed over them. 

 The head and back of the neck are covered with 



