HUME'S BARRED-BACKED PHEASANT 



183 



COMPARISON OF ADULT MALES, HUMIAE AND BURMANICUS 



The adult male, humiae, resembles burmanicus, except that the white fringe of the 

 lower back and rump is much narrower, measuring 2 to 2-5 mm., compared with about 

 5 mm. in the eastern bird. This character is constant in specimens from the general 

 ranges of the two forms. In Burmese birds we almost invariably find a very decided 

 increase of chestnut, both on the wing-bars and tail-feathers. There are no other 

 characters which are at all constant in a large series of individuals. 



An adult male in full plumage shows the following characters, as compared with 

 burmanicus. The white scapular band is much reduced, while the alar band {b) of 

 chestnut is almost absent. In fact, the whole anterior portion of the wing is rather 

 faded metallic blue. Band (d) is also reduced about half, and the white tips to the 

 coverts and secondaries are wider. The measurements in millimetres are as follows : 





[a) white .... 







5 



(On wing proper). 



{b) chestnut 



{c) faded blue 

 {d) chestnut 



{e) white .... 

 (/) chestnut 

 {g) black and white 







10 

 38 

 20 



13 

 43 

 18 



The blue of the wing, and to a less extent that of the neck, is a grey steel blue, not 

 the dark steel blue of burinanicus. 



On the back and rump the white fringe is only 2 mm., as compared with 5 mm. in 

 burmanicus, and adjoining this is a distinct band of steel blue, with a lesser gloss over 

 all the large, dark, semicircular area. The two white bars are more basal, and do not 

 show when the feathers are in order. 



On the breast the steel-blue fringes persist well down on the central line of the 

 belly. The tail is of a purer, darker grey, not nearly so mottled and light as in 

 burmanicus. Two male birds collected in central Katha, but in different localities, 

 show a decided difference in characters, but the average of both is almost exactly inter- 

 mediate between humiae and burmanictts. Thus we unquestionably find the two forms 

 intergrading in the northern part of their distribution, a trans-Burmese bridge existing 

 between Manipur, Katha, and the Ruby Mines District. In the southern parts of their 

 ranges the birds apparently do not approach closely, neither form passing over the low, 

 fiat plains of the Irrawaddy. 



Male of the Year. — This bird shows no signs of moult and is almost identical 

 with the adult. The wing-bar formula is more like burmanicus, and the neck-gloss is 

 more of the faded blue than steel blue. The back and rump is typical humiae, but the 

 gloss is green rather than blue. The black cross-bars on the tail show a well-marked 

 bar of chestnut on both sides of the black. Chin and throat are brown, without gloss. 



Male with much Juvenile Plumage. — The white of the side crown has very 

 short metallic tips and is very distinct as a broad band from the eye backward, bordering 

 the bare face. The steel-blue gloss extends far down on the mantle, the copper and rufous 

 area of the back being reduced. The wing is in full moult, and the abundance of old 

 feathers breaks up the series of wing-bars. 



