SUPERB PHEASANT. 237 



wedge-shaped, its two middle feathers whitish, barred with 



black. 

 Phasianus superbus. Linn. Mant. \77^- P- 526. Gmel. Syst. 



Nat. l. 744. 7. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 628. 'L. Temm. Gall. Ind. 



671. 



Phasianus varius. Shaw. Nat. Misc. v. 10. 

 Faisan superbe. Temm. Pig. et Gall. 2. 336. 

 Superb Pheasant. Lath. Gen. Syn. 4. 709. '2. Lath. Syn. Sup. 



II. 273. 1. Shaw. Nat. Misc. I0.pl. 353. 



THIS splendidly magnificent bird, if the accounts 

 that are given of its plumage be faithful, is con- 

 fessedly the most remarkable of the genus. It is 

 described by Linneus from the various repre- 

 sentations of it painted on paper hangings and 

 China ware, and confirmed by a figure and descrip- 

 tion in a Chinese book which came under his 

 inspection. It is said to have a red beak : on the 

 forehead is a red caruncle, somewhat rounded in 

 shape, and two wattles of a blood-red colour under 

 the chin, as in the Cock : the crown of the head 

 is green ; at the hind part a folded crest, of a 

 blue colour : the hind part of the neck is green ; 

 on each side furnished with long variegated 

 feathers, which stand out from the neck, and turn 

 backwards : the shoulders are green, spotted with 

 white : the wings red : primary quills blue : the 

 body is red : the tail long, and wedge-shaped : 

 the feathers are blue and red mixed ; and the 

 coverts are of several colours, arid fall over the 

 sides of it : the legs are yellow, and without 

 spurs. 



Temminck considers the long feathers that 

 arrive from China as belonging to this species, and 



