ORDER GALLIN.E. 151 



true tail. This bird differs again from the pheasant by 

 having a broad and rounded tail, the feathers of the middle 

 of which are not vaulted like those of the true pheasants ; 

 and also, in its cheeks, which are not covered with a tissue 

 of velvety red. The character of its having constantly 

 several spurs, also removes it from the peacocks and phea- 

 sants. 



According to M. Temminck, who speaks from personal 

 observation, the remarkable attribute of the polyplectron, and 

 from which this name is derived, is to have several spurs on 

 the feet, varying, as he says, from six to four. The one 

 described by Sonnerat had five, two on the right foot, and three 

 on the left ; the two under ones being united at the base. 

 M. Temminck has seen others which had but two spurs on 

 each foot, and one which had six in all, three on each foot. 

 Two of these birds, forming a part of the collection of this 

 eminent naturalist, have three spurs on the right foot, and 

 two on the left. In these individuals, the two upper spurs of 

 the right foot are united at the base. 



M. Temminck has constantly found two spurs united 

 indifferently, either from the lower or upper ; but he never 

 saw an individual Avith three spurs separated. It is also as 

 rare to see one of these birds with only four spurs as with six- 

 M. Vieillot, however, has denominated this bird, diplectron, 

 which would fix the number of spurs to two, though he does 

 not deny the truth of the statement which we have now 

 given, from the Dutch naturalist. It is probable that he 

 reckons the two spurs, united at the base, as but one. 



But M. Temminck confesses that this character cannot in 

 itself serve for a solid basis of generic separation. He therefore 

 takes his second character from the two tiers of the tail. This 

 double tail has all the feathers, of which it is composed, rounded 

 at the end, and graduated ; and when the bird is agitated, it 

 spreads out these two ranges, without, however, raising the tail, 

 whose two planes always remain in an horizontal direction. 



