ol4 BIRDS. 
Ph. Argus, L.; L’ Argus, Vieill. Galer., pl. cciti. (The 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, 
widened, 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 Arcus, Tem., 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 
calls it Phasianus superbus; Gall. Il, p. 336. The 
Hovuppireres, Jem., 
Have the naked cheeks common to all this genus, the vertical tail and 
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; Phas. ignitus, Sh. Nat. Misc., 321; Vieill., 
Galer., pl. 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, Buff.; 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}, Tem. 
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. 
+ Vieillot has changed this name into Lrrponyx. 
There is a species of Cryptonyx at Malacca, mentioned by Dussumier, which is 
black, crestless, and without the papillated space about the eye. 
