GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



229 



THE MONAUL, OR IMPEYAN PHEASANT. 



The MoNAUL, or Impeyan Pheasant {Lophophoms resplendens, refidgens, ox Impeyanus), possesses 

 a comparatively powerful body, moderate-sized wings, and a rather long tail, composed of sLxteen 

 feathers. The upper mandible is curved and sharply pointed at its tip ; the foot is of medium height, 

 that of the male furnished with a spur. The plumage of the male is magnificently coloured and very 

 glossy; the region of the eye is bare, and his head decorated with a crest formed of numerous 



THE MO.N'AUL, OR IMPEYAN PHEASANT [Lopliop/iorus resplciidciis, rcf:i:^ciis, or Impeyan.is). 



feathers ; these are denuded of web at the roots and ver}' broad at the e.xtremities. The head and 

 throat of this beautiful bird are of a metallic green, the crest is also of that hue, but resplendent 

 with a golden sheen ; the nape and upper part of the throat are of such a glossy purple or carmine-red 

 that they gleam with all the brilliancy of the ruby ; the lower parts of the throat and back are bronze- 

 green, shaded with gold ; the rest of the mantle, the wing and upper tail-covers are brilliant violet 

 or blueish green ; some few feathers on the under side are white, but its surface is pruicipally black, 

 shining with green and purple on the centre of the breast, and lustreless on the belly; the quills are 

 black, the tail reddish brown ; the eye is brown, the bare place that surrounds it blueish; the beak is 

 d.irk grey, and the foot greyish green. The length is twcnly-six and the breadth thiriy-tliree inches ; 



