.24 CLASS AVES. 



tint, and wing, and upper tail-coverts, ash, varied with 

 golden-green. 



One of the most singular species of birds is 



The Argun Pheasant, Ph. Argus, L. Vieill. Gal. 



203.* 



The great Pheasant of Southern Asia, with the 

 head and neck almost naked, the tarsi without 

 spurs. The male has the tail very long, and espe- 

 cially the secondary quills of the wings, which are 

 excessively elongated and enlarged, covered their 

 whole length with spots in the form of eyes, which, 

 when they are displayed, give the bird a very extra- 

 ordinary appearance. It inhabits the mountains of 

 the island of Sumatra, and some other countries in 

 the south-east of Asia. 



This forms the genus Argus of Temminck. 



It appears that there exists in the interior of 

 China a bird whose tail-feathers are still longer, and 

 extend to four feet, whitish, changing into red 



* The ArguLS Pavoninus, Vieil. See also Phil. Trans. Iv. t. 3, Ency. Meth. 

 t. 87, f. 2, and Mus. Lever, t. 10. According to Dr. Hamilton and Dr. 

 Latham, there is a second species of this genus in Malay. See the Malay 

 Peacoch,'Lzt\\. Hist. viii. 1. 21, t. 120, which is said to spread its tail like a 

 peacock. The males are olive-yellowish, with reddish brown spots; and 

 beneath, red-brown, lined with black ; tail, black-brown, white dotted. 

 The female is black-brown, yellow and brown spotted ; secondaries with- 

 out eye-spots. Less than half the size of the male. 



