THE KOKLASS PHEASANT OF THE HIMALAYAS. 449 



" The new species, which is tolerably common in Cashmere, is 

 named after the discoverer, Major John Biddulph, whose services 

 to ornitholoofical science are well known/' 



I have given this paper at full leng^th because, although I do 

 not myself consider that this so-called P. hiddulphi (of which 

 I had a specimen before me when I wrote the GtAME Birds), is 

 really entitled to specific rank, I think it only right that my 

 readers should hear both sides of the question. As I said in the 

 Game Birds : — 



" I incline to consider the whole of the Koklass, which are 

 as yet known to occur in our hills as one and the same species, 

 varying much according to localities, and somewhat also, as 

 regards individuals even in the same locality, but all so running 

 one into the other, and all accompanied by so many intermedi- 

 ate forms, that it is desirable to treat all as one species." 



But whatever verdict may be pronounced as to the validity of 

 the three previously described varieties — nipalensis, macrolopha 

 and castanea (for the name duvauceli, cannot, as I have shown, 

 S. F., VII., 124, be properly adopted for this species) — I must 

 protest against the introduction of more species. This hiddulphi 

 is simply a form intermediate between castanea and macrO' 

 lopha ; if we accept it, we must also accept the form interme- 

 diate between it and the Mussooree macrolopha, which we have 

 from KuUu, and again the Kumaon form which is intermediate 

 between the Mussooree macrolopha and nipalensis. At the very 

 least we shall have six species of Himalayan Koklass and 

 directly we have these, intermediate forms will require, on like 

 principles, to be similarly ranked as species. 



I am quite certain that no competent ornithologist who 

 (Studies a really large series of these Koklass from different 

 portions of the hills will ever agree to make more than three 

 species, even though, as a matter of convenience, he should 

 tolerate the three. 



Finally, I am unable to ascertain the authority on which 

 Bhotan is given as a habitat of P. nipalensis, which is, I believe, 

 confined to the westernmost portions of Nepal. 



A. 0. H. 



