CHINESE SILVER KALEEGE 69 



examined. Its total length was no less than 1365 mm ; bill from nostril, 23 ; wing, 

 290; tail, 860 ; tarsus, loi ; middle toe and claw, 75 ; spurs, 20 mm. The tail, 860 mm. 

 (over 34 inches), was a marvel of grace, curving upward in a low gradual arc. 



VARIATION 



We can hardly deal with variation without encroaching upon the domains of 

 hybridism. However, in birds from the heart of the range, or from Fokien, we find 

 that in only about fifty per cent, are the central tail-feathers wholly immaculate. 

 Even the extreme specimen from north-west Fokien whose remarkable size I have 

 noticed has very pronounced black spotting on the basal half of the outer web. I 

 have already written of the variation in size, and in the strength of the black dorsal 

 lining ; there are hardly two individuals exactly alike. All, however, lie within such 

 limits that there is no hesitation in distinguishing a pure-blooded bird from the mere 

 hybrid forms. I have obtained birds of the typical nycthemerus plumage well within 

 the ranges of the so-called ripponi, rufipes and sharpei. A number of skins have 

 come to my attention, taken well within the range of the Silver Pheasant, in which 

 the legs and feet, instead of being scarlet, were white or greenish, the birds otherwise 

 being typically nycthemerus. A captive bird of this description has lived for many 

 years in one of the London parks. 



Adult Female. — The upper plumage a rich golden brown, peppered with darker. 

 The head is brown, the crest feathers becoming blackish toward the tip. Tail 

 variable, the outer rectrices blackish, with irregular broken lines of white or buffy- 

 white, the four central rectrices ashy-brown with irregular dark brown bars and lines. 

 Below ashy-brown, paler on the chin and throat, and on the lower breast, which 

 shows more or less mottling and barring with brownish. These markings increase 

 in strength and size posteriorly. 



Bill dull greenish, paler at the tip ; facial skin scarlet or dull crimson ; irides red- 

 brown ; legs and feet clear coral red. Bill from nostril, 20 mm. ; wing, 225 ; tail, 285 ; 

 tarsus, 88; middle toe and claw, 70 mm. 



Chick in Down. — Head pale orange buff or golden brown, darkening on crown, 

 becoming narrower and darker brown on nape, and changing to a very wide area of 

 blackish-brown on the back. This blackish or chocolate brown is split by two pale, 

 buffy white lines down each side. Shoulders more reddish brown ; a short, narrow 

 black line extends back from the eye; beneath pale yellow buff, changing to white 

 posteriorly; facial area well indicated by very short down. Bill greenish yellow; 

 iris pale hazel ; legs and feet red. The newly-hatched Silver is about a third larger 

 than a golden chick. 



Juvenile Plumage of Seven Weeks Bird. — Top of head from crown to nape 

 brown, so broadly tipped with black that it appears of this colour. Facial area 

 almost bare, sparsely covered with pale buff down ; ear-coverts brown ; upper parts 

 sandy brown, finely vermiculated with black ; wing-coverts and secondaries the same, 

 but with narrow buff tips to the greater coverts. Scapulars and inner coverts with 



