202 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIV. 



Three species of this genus have been admitted hitherto, i.e., argvs, 

 grayi and hifunctatus, but the last is named from a single feather 

 which appears to me to be nothing more than an abnormal primarj^ 

 feather of argus. The two webs of this feather both spring from 

 practically the same source, i.e., the extreme upper edge of the vane 

 instead of fronp. the two sides, consequently both webs derive their 

 pigmentation from the same source and have the same colouration. 

 Under the circumstances the species must undoubtedly be suppres- 

 sed. The origin of the feather is not known but it was named by a 

 Mr. AV^ood, who gave it to Mr. Bartlett who in turn made it over to 

 the British Museum. It is probably an abnormal wing feather of a 

 captive bird. 



Argusianus ARGUS (Linn). 

 The Argus Pheasant. 



Phasianus argus. — Linn, S. N., I., p. 272 (1766); Lath., Ind- 

 Orn., IL, p. 629 (1790). 



Arqus giganteus. — Temm., Pig. et Gall., II., p. 410 (1813); Gray, 

 List of B., pt. III., Gal. p. 23 (1844) ; Blyth, Oat. Mris. As. Soc, 

 p. 242 (1849); Elliott, Mon. Phas. 1., pi. XI (1872); Hume. 

 Str. Feath., IL, p. 481 (1874); R ihid III., p. 324 (1875); Hume 

 and Davison ibid, VI., p. 427 (1878) ; Hame and Marsh., Game B., 

 Ind., p. 99 (1878); Hume, Str. Feath., VIIL, p. 68 (1879); id. 

 Cat. No. 803 ter. 



Argus pavonius. —Yieill, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., II. , 507 (1816). 



Argus pavoninus. — J. E. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool., I., pi. 36 (1830-2). 



Argusianus giqanteus. — Gray, List Gallinse Brit. Mus., p. 25 

 (1867); id., Hand-L. IL, p. 257 (1870); Blyth and Wald., Cat. 

 Mamm. and B. of Burmah, p. 148 (1875). 



Argusianus arqus. — Tweedd, Ibis (1877), p. 322; Gates, B. of 

 Burmah, IL, p. 313 (1883) ; Murray, Avi. B. I., IL, p. 530(1890); 

 Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. M., XXIL, p. 363 (1893) ; id., Game B., II. 

 p. 70 (1897); Blanford, F. B. I. Birds, IV., p. 71 (1898); Gates, 

 Man. Game B. of Ind., I., p. 286 (1898) ; Butler, Birds Larut Hills, 

 p. 22 (1899) ; Sharpe, Hand-L., I., p. 41 (1899); Gates, Eggs of 

 B. B. M., I., p. 61 (1901) ; Finn, Indian Sport Birds, p. 167 

 (1914). 



Vernacular names. — Quou, Borong Quou, Kwang (^Malay) • 

 Kyek or Kyet-wah (jSionnese, BanJcasoon). 



Pescription — Adult Male. — Centre of crown from forehead to nape, 

 black, the feathers of the latter rather longer, forming an incipient 

 crest ; feathers of the back of the neck sparse and barred black and 

 white, the latter changing to rufous towards the back. Sides ot 

 head and all round the eye, chin, throat and sides of the neck 

 nearly bare with fine shaft-like feathers scattered thinly over the 

 whole surface. Upper back, scapulafs and wing coverts blackish 



