8o A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



The price for the first pair of Swinhoes was between four and five thousand francs 

 (about $900). In 1868 the price per bird had fallen to three hundred and fifty francs 

 ($70), and the following year it averaged two hundred and fifty francs (I50). 



Of thirty-two Swinhoe's Kaleege which have lived in the London Zoo the average 

 length of life was one year, although one bird reached the age of five and a half years. 



As we have seen, Swinhoe's Kaleege does not attain its fully adult plumage until 

 the second year, but the birds will breed the first year while still in immature dress. 

 Thus, of forty-one eggs from three young hens, twenty-nine, or about seventy per cent., 

 were fertile. This, however, is exceptional, and the males seem to be much more inclined 

 to breed the first year. As with golden and silver pheasants, this precocious breeding 

 seems to increase with successive generations in captivity. Whereas wild trapped birds 

 of the first generation will produce but few fertile eggs in their first year, succeeding 

 generations prove much more willing and successful in this respect. 



Variations. — An interesting variety, or perhaps true mutation, comparable with 

 the black-shouldered peafowl and the black-throated golden has been described by Ghigi. 

 This was one of four Swinhoe's Kaleege hatched from a brood of seven eggs, the parents 

 being normal in every way. The bird in question was yellowish white. 



DETAILED DESCRIPTION 



Adult Male.— -Posterior crown and nape with a flowing white crest. Back of neck 

 and entire mantle down to the mid-back white. Remainder of head and entire under 

 parts black, with a strong purplish sheen on all exposed portions of feathers, becoming 

 dull brownish black on posterior abdomen. Scapulars deep crimson, forming very 

 conspicuous patches on each side of the white mantle. Wing-coverts, lower back, rump 

 and tail-coverts black, all with a specialized terminal band. In the wing-coverts this 

 is metallic green, while in all the other feathers it is a brilliant, deep purple. The tail 

 feathers are black, with the central pair and outer part of the second pair white. 



Facial skin scarlet, covered with roughened papillae and a scattering of small 

 feathers ; legs and feet deep red ; irides bill yellowish horn. 



Length, 790 mm.; bill from nostril, 22; wing, 250; tail, 410; tarsus, 93; middle 

 toe and claw, 70 ; spur, 35 mm. 



The specialized terminal fringe on the wing-coverts, lower back and tail-coverts 

 corresponds in gennaeus edwardsi, and is characterized by three abrupt changes in the 

 vane, first, the total loss of all barbicels, second, a pronounced flattening of the barbules, 

 and an alteration in the angle of attachment of these barbules to the barbs — the two 

 rows being raised, so that, instead of lying on opposite sides in a flat plane, they form 

 an obtuse angle with each other. 



Adult Female. — There is a short inconspicuous crest, which, with the remainder 

 of the head and neck, is greyish brown, mottled indistinctly with black ; mantle, 

 scapulars and wing-coverts buffy-brown, with large, arrow-shaped centres of rufous bufl", 

 margined with black. Lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts black, finely vermic- 

 ulated with buff, becoming greyer posteriorly. Primaries dark brown, secondaries 

 black, the former barred with rufous, the latter with buff. Chin and throat greyish 



