88 THE ARGUS PHEASANT. 



above four feet; the body about the size of the silrer pheasant, 

 and the whole plumage beautifully barred. 



SCEMMERING'S PHEASANT is a very beautiful species, sent to the 

 Dutch collection, by Dr. Seiboldt, from Japan. It is described as 

 intermediate in size between the Common and Golden Pheasant. 

 The male is a rich, reddish purple. 



The ARGUS PHEASANT, a superb bird, of chaste tints and har- 

 monious blending, but not of the brilliant splendour of the pre- 

 ceding. It is an inhabitant of Sumatra and Malacca. The body 

 is about the size of the Silver Pheasant, but with its two long, tail 

 feathers, which are of themselves three feet eight inches, its entire 

 length is five feet three inches. The wings, of which the se- 

 condaries are three times the length of the quills, being about two 

 feet ten inches long, from their unwieldy size, almost entirely 

 deprive the bird of flight, but greatly accelerate its pace when 

 running. Upon the wings, and particularly upon the secondaries, 

 is lavished the greater part of the beautiful adornment of the 

 many eyes, from which the bird takes its name. When at rest, 

 or not excited, those beautiful spots are hardly visible, but when 

 in the presence of his females, the wings are expanded and trailed 

 upon the ground, displaying their beauties, as the peacock exhibits 

 his train, or the turkey his tail. I have, fortunately, been in the 

 possession of stuffed specimens of both male and female, the 

 female being much smaller than her mate, and, as in all the Phea- 

 sants, of plain and modest plumage. Mr. Cross, while proprietor 

 of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, was then in possession of a 

 living male specimen, which has since been added to the great 

 Knowsley collection, in both of which aviaries I had the good 

 fortune to see it, and believe it to be the only living specimen at 

 present in Great Britain. 



THE IMPEYAN PHEASANT 



Inhabits the Alpine ranges of Nepaul and Himalaya, and were 

 first attempted to be brought to Britain by Lady Impey, but 

 without success, having died on shipboard. Eine specimens have 

 since been added to the collection of the Earl of Derby, with 

 whom they have bred ; and Sir Philip Crampton, our Surgeon - 

 General, has lately been presented with a beautiful living pair, 

 by Lord Hardinge ; the male bird, unfortunately, died, since 

 which the female has been sent to the London Zoological Gardens, 

 to seek a mate, that society being in possession of a male bird, 

 and, with every prospect of an increase, the female having laid 



