31't BIRDS. 



Ph. Argus, L. ; VAnjus, Yieill. Galer., pi. cciii. (Tlie Argus). 

 A large Pheasant from the south of Asia, whose head and neck are 

 nearly naked. The tarsi are without spurs ; a very long tail to the 

 male ; the secondary quills of the wings excessively elongated, 

 mdened, and covered throughout with ocellated spots, which, when 

 spread, give to the bird a most extraordinary aspect. It inhabits 

 the mountains of Sumatra, and of some other countries of the south 

 east of Asia. It forms the genus Argus, Tern., Gallin. 



There is reason to believe that a bird exists in the interior of 

 China, the feathers of whose tail are still more elongated, attaining 

 a length of four feet, whitish, changing to red on the edges, with 

 numerous transverse black or chestnut lines. It is thought to be 

 figured on some of the Chinese paper hangings. M. Temminck 

 caWs it Phasianus superbus ; Gall. II, p. 336. The 



HouppiFERES, Tern., 



Have the naked cheeks common to all this genus, the vertical tail ?.nd 

 arched coverts peculiar to the Cock, and feathers on their head which 

 they can erect, forming an aigrette similar to that of the Peacock. The 

 inferior edge of the naked skin on the cheeks, which is salient, supplies 

 the place of wattles. The tarsi are armed with strong spurs. 



Only one species is known ; it is from the straits of Sunda, is the 

 size of a Cock, of a brilliant black, with a golden red rump ; the 

 two superior tail-coverts yellowish or whitish, the flanks spotted with 

 white or fawn-colour; Ph as. Ignitus, Sh. Nat. Misc., 321 ; VieilL, 

 Galer., pi. ccvii. The female is brown, finely striped with black 

 above, and dashed with white beneath. She has also a crest. 



Tragopan, Cuv. 



The head of the male is more fantastically ornamented than any other 

 bird ; it is almost naked, and behind each eye is a small slender horn ; a 

 wattle under the throat susceptible of inflation; the tarsi of both sexes 

 armed with short spurs. 



Only one species is known, a native of the north of India, the 

 Nepaul or Faisan cornu, BuiF. ; Penelope satyra, Gm. ; Meleagris 

 satyrus, Lath. Edw. 116; VieilL, Galer. 206. As large as a Cock; 

 of a brilliant red, sprinkled with small white tears. The female 

 and the young are of different shades of brown*. 

 We should separate from the Pheasants, the 



Cryptonyx-j-, Tern. 



In which the nakedness of the head is confined to the circumference of 

 the eye ; the tail is moderate and plane, and the tarsi without spurs ; the 

 principal character, however, consists in the absence of the thumb nail. 



There is only one species well known, the male of which has a 



* The Tragopan of Pliny, lib. x, c. 49, was probably imagined from this bird, 

 t Vieillot has changed this name into Liponyx. 



There is a species of Cnjptonyx at Malacca, mentioned by Dussumier, which is 

 black, crestless, and without the papillated space about the eye. 



