86 DE. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE ZOOLOGY OF 



Order GALLINiE. 



Earn. PHASIANID^]. 



92. Phasianus persicus. 



Phasianns persicus, Severtz. ; Seebohm, Ibis, 1887, p. 170. 

 1. 6 . Bander-i-ghaz, Caspian. October, 1885. 



[This Pheasant was brought in for sale at Bander-i-ghaz, where it is said to be now rare. 

 —J. E. T. A.] 



Mr. Seebohm observes : — "This is an intermediate form between P. colchicus and P. 

 'principalis, having the narrow margins of the feathers of the underparts of the former, 

 and the whiter wing-coverts of the latter, and differing from both in having the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts suffused with purple-lake when the light falls on the bird from 

 the back of the observer. No green can be detected on the centre of the breast and 

 belly in any light." 



93. Phasianus principalis, sp. nov. (Plate VII.) 



Phasianus principalis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 324, pi. 22; Seebohm, Ibis, 1887, p. 171 ; Scully, t. c. p. 86. 



1, 2. <$ ; 3, 4, 5. $ . Bala-morghab, Badghis. 29th December, 1884. 

 6, 7.6. „ „ 3rd February, 1885. 



8. 6 ; 9, 10. $ . Karaol-khana, Badghis. 15th February, 1885. 



[The specimens of this Pheasant were all got on the banks of the Bala-morghab, where 

 it occurs in considerable numbers in the Tamarisk and Grass jungle growing in the bed 

 of the river. More than 400 were killed on the march of 30 miles up this river. It not 

 only wades through the water in trying to make from one point of vantage to another, 

 but swims, and seems to be quite at home in these thickets, where there is always water 

 to the depth of two or three feet. These swampy localities afford good shelter. In the 

 mornings and evenings the Pheasants leave it for the more open and dry country, 

 where they pick up their food. I believe the same species is found on the Hari-rud 

 river, but I have seen no specimens from that locality. In February 18S8 five living birds 

 were presented by Major Peacocke to the Zoological Society of London (see P. Z. S. 

 1888, p. 140).— J. E. T. A.] 



Mr. Seebohm's note on this species is as follows : — " It is an intermediate form between 

 P. persicus and P. shawl. It differs from the former in having the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts glossed with brick-red instead of purple-lake, and the dark margins and tips 

 of the feathers both of the upper and underparts broader and more lustrous. Erom the 

 latter it differs in having less green below the neck on the upper or underparts. On 

 the centre of the breast and belly no trace of green can be detected, even when the light 

 falls upon the bird from the back of the observer. Some examples of P. shaioi almost, 

 but apparently never quite, lose this trace of green." 



