SPECIES PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. 43 



IV. 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED SIK< IKS 

 OF BIRDS. 



Polyplectron napoleonis Less. 



Polyplectrum napoleonis Less. Traite d'Orn. pp. 487,650(1831). 



Polyplectron enphanum Tern. PL Col. v. pi. -18 (No. 540) (1831). 



Polyplectron emphanes Sclat. List of Phas. p. 12 (1854); id. Ibis, 1878, p. 623. 



Polyplectron napoleonis Tweed. (Nee. Less.) P. Z. S. 1878, p. 792; Sharpe, 

 Ibis, 1888, p. 203; Blasius, Ornis. 1888, p. 317; Everett, Birds of Borneo, 

 p. 198 (1889); Whitehead, Ibis, 1890, p. 57. 



Polyplectron nehrkornae Bias. Mitth. orn. Ver. Wien, 1891, p. 1; id. J. f. O. 



1891. p. 10. 



We have some information to offer concerning the habitat of the 

 much discussed Polyplectron napoleonis. Mr. Ogilvie Grant states 

 in the Catalogue of Birds, vol. xxii. p. 361, that the male of P. napo- 

 leonis is "exactly similar to the male of P. nehrkornae, but the 

 white superciliary stripes are wide and strongly marked and conflu- 

 ent on the nape. Total length 18.5 inches, wing, 7.3, tail, 7.8, tarsus, 

 2.5. Habitat unknown. (?) Luzon, Philippine Islands." 



While in Palawan we were so fortunate as to secure a series of 

 eleven fully adult males of the Polyplectron inhabiting that island. 

 Of these, two have not the slightest trace of superciliary stripes, while 

 a third has only four small white feathers on one side. In each of 

 the above there are a few white feathers on the nape. Three of our 

 specimens perfectly agree with the description of typical P. nehr- 

 kornae. Three specimens have broad superciliary stripes almost 

 confluent on the nape, and in one bird the superciliary stripes, which 

 begin between eye and nostril, are very broad, widening steadily 

 towards the nape WHERE THEY ARE FULLY CONFLUENT. An exam- 

 ination of young birds of which we have a good series shows that 

 the width and extent of the superciliary lines is independent of age. 

 We therefore feel perfectly satisfied that P. Napoleonis and P. 

 nehrkornae are identical since the width of the white superciliary 

 stripes is an uncertain quantity, subject to wide individual variation, 

 and may even be absent. 



As P. napoleonis is easily trapped, we feel that the presumptive 

 evidence against its occurrence in Luzon is very strong. The na- 

 tives would certainly know of its presence were it found there and 

 we venture to prophesy that Mr. Whitehead will search that island 

 in vain for it. 



