THE KOKLASS PHEASANT OF THE HIMALAYAS. 447 



their respective ranges. It is also not impossible that they 

 may, after all, be merely local races of the same species. The 

 negative fact that no two different species have been found 

 inhabiting the same locality, rather favors this view ; while, on 

 the other hand, the fact that, so far from a regular gradation 

 of colour from west to east being perceptible, the form inhabit- 

 ing Nepal has its nearest ally in the Cashmere form, and its 

 next nearest in that from the extreme west, while the interven- 

 ing form in Kumaon* is most widely distinct from it, raises a 

 presumption strongly in favour of the specific distinctness of 

 the various races. A parallel case to this curious distribution 

 is found among the long-tailed blue Magpies (Urocissa), in 

 which the Bhotan form {U. fiavirostris) is identical with the 

 Cashmere form, while a distinct species (C7. occipitalis) is found 

 in Kumaon and the intervening region, and where it occurs the 

 Bhotan form is absent, f 



*' The head-quarters, so to speak, of the six known species, 

 commencing from the west, are as follows : — 



** P. duvauceli, Northern Afghanistan and Kafiristan. 



** P. biddulphi, Cashmere. 



*' P. macrolopha, Kangra to Kumaon. 



" P. nipalensis, Nepal and Bhotan. 



" P. xanthospila, Mantchuria and Western China. 



*' P. darwini, Province of Che-Kiang, China. 



" P. biddulphi may be distinguished from P. duvauceli 

 by the mantle, which is black, edged with grey, instead 

 of deep uniform chestnut ; from P. macrolopha by the 

 very broad black centrings to the feathers of the mantle 

 and sides of the neck, and by the under tail-coverts and tail ; 

 and from P. nipalensis by the absence of the central 

 chestnut stripe on the feathers of the mantle and sides of the 

 neck. 



*^ The subjoined table gives the principal points of distinction 

 between the Himalayan species :-— 



* To me it appears that a regular gradation is observable from West to East. If 

 the Mussooree Eoklass is the true macrolopha, then the Eumaoa form should not be 

 alluded to as typical, for it is more or less intermediate between macrolopha and 

 nipalensis, (see Game Bieds, I., p. 166). This P. biddulphi is the form I referred to 

 (to»t cit., 167) when I said, " True castanea may be equally distinct, but the Westera 

 Cashmere specimens, which probably are only verging towards castanea, certainly 

 are not so." — Ed., S. F, 



f This is not strictly correct, as we get fiavirostris, in Grurhwal, British and Native, 

 and throughout the Hills right away to Cashmere. I have had many specimens for 

 instance sent me from the Hills north of Mussooree, and from Kotgarh ; but where it 

 co-exists in latitude with occipitalis, it is miich less common, and I suspect, from what 

 I have seen personally, affects generally different valleys. Still close to Simla behind 

 Mashaobra, we got both species out of the same dell, — Ed., S. F. 



57 



