545 



White-crested Kaleege. Gallophasis albocristatus. 



Horsfield's Kaleege. G. Jiorsfieldii. 



Black-backed Kaleege. G. melanotus. 



Cheer. Catreus wallichii. 



Impeyan Pheasant. Lophophorus impeyanus. 



Of the latter bird, specimens had been living in the Menao-erie 

 for some time, and eggs had been hatched in 1854 and 1856. 



In 1858 the five species above-mentioned produced 184 eggs, from 

 which no less than 1 26 birds were hatched, and 1 1 1 reared. These 

 were, for the most part, disposed of by sale to various members of 

 the Society having facilities for continuing the experiment. 



The young birds of the species of Gallophasis closely resemble 

 each other, as will be seen on comparing the figures of G. horsfteldii 

 and G. albocristatus in Plate CXLVIII. 



The young of Lophopkorus impeyanus and of Catreus wallichii 

 are now also figured for the first time in Plate CXLVII. 



The Cheer is clearly distinguished from the true Pheasant (Pha- 

 sianus), with which it was associated by its first describer, both in 

 form and in the texture and coloration of its plumage. Its carriage 

 when running, its note, and above all the coloration of the egg 

 (Plate CXLIX. fig. 4) are additional confirmations, if any were 

 necessary, of its generic difference. The egg which has been figured 

 is a fair typical example ; but there are varieties in which the 

 blotches nearly disappear. 



The egg of Lophophorus has been frequently sent from India ; 

 but authenticated specimens of the three species of Kaleege given in 

 figs. 1, 2, 3 of Plate CXLIX. have not, I believe, been recorded; 

 that of Gallophasis Jiorsfieldii, fig. 1, is easily distinguishable bv the 

 purplish tint of its ground, which never appears in either of the 

 others. 



The perfect hardiness of these English-bred birds has been satis- 

 factorily demonstrated at Hawkestone, as far as the temperature of 

 the past winter would admit of a trial. The Cheer, the Black-backed 

 Kaleege, and the Horsfield's or Purple Kaleege, have lived in an en- 

 closure of two acres without any shelter whatever, except that 

 afforded by the hollies and other evergreens in which they roost ; and 

 there is no doubt that, even in the severest weather, that protection 

 will be sufficient for them, as well as for the White-crested Kaleege 

 and the Lophophore. 



The present breeding-stock reserved by the Society consists of 

 two pairs of Cheer, two pairs of the Purple Kaleege, two pairs of 

 the White-crested Kaleege, two pairs of the Black-backed Kaleege, 

 and three pairs of the Impeyan Pheasant. If the success of last 

 year is continued, the whole of these species ought to be firmly esta- 

 blished in England ; and as the state of India will now admit of re- 

 sumed importations, the Ceriornis, Pucrasia, and Tetraoy alius ought 

 soon to follow them. 



No. CCCLXXXI. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



