KASHMIR KOKLASS PHEASANT 



Pucrasia macrolopha biddulphi Marshall 



Names.— Specific : biddulphi, after the discoverer of the form, Major John Biddulph. English : Kashmir 

 or Biddulph's Koklass. Native: Plas (Kashmir). 



Brief Description.— Male : Similar to the Common Koklass {P. macrolopha macrolopha), but with the 

 chestnut of the fore neck continued more or less completely over the hind neck, forming a nearly or quite complete 

 collar. The chestnut of the lower plumage is usually darker, and mixed with black. Female : Similar to the 

 female of the Common Koklass. 



Range. — Kashmir. 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 



This form has been found in suitable localities quite widely distributed in Kashmir, 

 as far in the north-west as Gilgit. Specimens from that locality approach castanea, 

 while toward the east it grades evenly into macrolopha. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT 



This form would seem hardly deserving of even subspecific distinction, were it not 

 that there does seem to be a node of static radiation in Kashmir, where one finds many 

 individuals of fairly close resemblance. There is, however, a complete gradation from 

 macrolopha on the east, to castanea on the west. The distinguishing characters are found 

 only in the males, and in the extreme phase of development they show the chestnut 

 of the ventral surface decidedly darker, more maroon, while there is a distinct black 

 margin to all these feathers, and the black encroaches from the base, and thus limits the 

 maroon. In some individuals, indeed, the maroon on the lower breast becomes reduced 

 to a very inconspicuous terminal shaft-streak. In these birds the chestnut on the tail is 

 replaced by rufous buff. 



In addition, this maroon colour (still holding its darkened hue) extends clear around 

 the back of the neck in the form of a narrow, but irregularly pointed (owing to the 

 lanceolate shape of the feathers) collar of dark red. 



No other constant characters are apparent, and the females are identical. 



These individuals are variable to the highest degree. In some, almost the entire 

 lower surface is maroon and black, the grey feathers being confined to a narrow strip 

 along the sides. In such birds the maroon on the dorsal surface occurs irregularly over 

 the entire mantle. This forms a direct link with P. castanea. 



This western line of biddulphi leading from macrolopha, while it shows an increase 

 and darkening of the chestnut, yet has the dorsal surface, including the lower mantle, 

 back, rump, scapulars and wing-coverts, as light as in macrolopha. In fact, these parts 

 are identical in the two forms, except that the concealed rufous on the secondaries and 



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