ARGUS POLYPLECTRON 157 



we are about to describe, and the P.chinquis of Tem- 

 minck, for which the old name of Tibetanus should 

 be retained. The length of the Argus polyplectron 

 is about 18 or 19 inches. The feathers of the fore- 

 head are lengthened to a crest, are large, of a brown- 

 ish-black, and marked with white at the base. All 

 the rest of the head and neck is covered with short 

 feathers, of a dull black. The throat is whitish ; and 

 the cheeks and space surrounding the eyes is freer 

 from feathers than those parts in the remaining spe- 

 cies. The back, scapularies, and wing- coverts, are 

 of a yellowish-brown, thickly sprinkled with black 

 spots, and having at the tip of each feather an eyed 

 spot of a rich bluish-green. The breast, belly, vent, 

 and thighs, are umber-brown, having the shafts white. 

 The quills are dull brown. The tail, composed of 

 two ranges of feathers, and rounded, is of the same 

 colour with the back, thickly mottled with black, 

 and has the tip of each feather rufous, blotched with 

 deep black. Near the end of each feather are the 

 two beautiful eye-like spots, of a brilliant green, 

 placed close together, and surrounded with a circle 

 of black. 



This bird, which is far from being common, is a 

 native of Malacca ; most probably also China and 

 the Indian Islands. It may be easily distinguished 

 from the P. Tibetanus, its nearest ally, by the less 

 size, the comparative bareness of the cheeks, its larger 

 crest, and the different form of the feathers compos- 



