310 Zoological N. Y. Zoological Society. [I; 17 



merus, the Silver Kaleege. On the island of Hainan is an 

 offshoot from this, whiteheadi, quite close to the typical species, 

 but of course worthy of specific recognition on account of its 

 complete geographic isolation. 



A third line, quite distinct from lineatus, is found to the 

 southeast in Annam. This is edivardsi whose connection with 

 lineatus at least as a direct offshoot is at present somewhat 

 obscure. Although it is known only from a few specimens from 

 Annam, yet its rather close relationship with siuinhoii is of great 

 interest. The latter inhabits the island of Formosa, and with its 

 tropical, Lophura-like brilliance of color differs much from 

 nycthemerus, the only species at present inhabiting southeast 

 China. Edivardsi, however, shows a very probable linking rela- 

 tionship, less specialized, and much nearer the supposed center 

 or origin. 



After carefully going over all the data available, I cannot 

 see that there are any other species worthy of recognition on 

 grounds similar to the nine Kaleege I have mentioned. 



Centering our attention again on Burma and the adjacent 

 Chinese states, we find that most of the country is occupied by 

 three species, lineatus, horsfieldi and nycthemerus. Now in all 

 the genera of pheasants there is, as far as I know, no case of 

 two congeneric species occupying the same territory. This was 

 not true as long as 'reevesi and soemmerringii were included in 

 Phasianus, a very obviously erroneous association, which I have 

 attempted to better. We find that in addition to the nine 

 Geymaeus I have already mentioned, there have been described 

 under binomial names, no fewer than twenty-six forms. Almost 

 without exception these are all found within the range of one 

 or the other of the three above mentioned, widely-distributed 

 species, and not only this but they occur along the borders where 

 the three approach one another. After studying these forms 

 from every point of view possible, there is no doubt whatever in 

 my mind but that all are feral hybrids. In some way after the 

 three main types of Kaleege became differentiated, they 

 approached one another again, working along the narrow, inter- 

 secting valleys of Central and Upper Burma, where cross-breed- 

 ing took place, apparently as freely as it does in captivity. The 



