EDWARD'S KALEEGE 



Gennaeus edwardsi Oustalet 



Names. — Specific : edwardsi, English ; Edward's or Annam Kaleege. 



Brief Description. — Male : Cap white ; body metallic purplish black, with pronounced terminal fringe 

 on rump and tail-coverts ; wing-coverts shining green with disintegrated fringe ; wings and tail black ; facial skin, 

 legs and feet scarlet. Female : Brownish-grey ; paler on the neck, and becoming more rufous on scapulars and 

 wing-coverts ; tail blackish ; face and legs scarlet. 



Types. — In Paris Museum. 



Range. — Province of Kuang-tri in Annam. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT 



Although this very distinct species has been known for nineteen years, absolutely 

 nothing has been recorded in regard to its haunts or habits. 



In the Museum d'histoire naturelle in Paris there are four specimens, three 

 males and a female, the only ones of this species which have been thus far collected. 



Oustalet, in his description of the species, as given in the " Bulletin Museum 

 d'histoire naturelle" in 1896, adds: "This exceedingly remarkable species, which the 

 Museum has acquired from P. Renauld, consisting of the skins of two adult males, 

 a young male and a few odd bits of plumage, forms in certain respects a transition 

 between Gennaeus with roof-shaped tail, and Acomus with a flattened tail." I am 

 quite certain that the mounted bird *which Oustalet considers a young male is a 

 fully adult female. The details of coloration are rather those of a female than a 

 male in first-year plumage. There are absolutely no signs of immaturity in the 

 plumage, and this, in connection with the nodule-like spurs, would indicate that the 

 bird, which was unsexed by the collector, is a full-grown female. I have described 

 it as such. The final suggestion made by Oustalet is an error, since the tail of 

 Acomus is as distinctly roof-shaped or laterally compressed as that of Gennaeus. 

 The relation with swinhoii which I have mentioned elsewhere is very apparent, as 

 in the crest, tail, specialization of feather structure, and other characters. 



DETAILED DESCRIPTION 



Adult Male. — Facial skin corrugated and scarlet ; forehead, narrow superciliary 

 (above facial skin), posterior crown, chin, upper neck and ear-coverts brownish-black ; 

 stiffened crown feathers moderately elongated into a crest, white, tipped with black ; 

 the sharp transition into the short, black, posterior crown is by a few lines of short 

 feathers, white crossed by several black bars ; the black feathers merge at once into 

 the typical body plumage ; this is shining purplish blue, the former tint predominat- 

 ing on the neck, breast, sides and mantle, and changing almost insensibly into a 



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