94 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



full-grown, central tail-feathers of two adult males shot on the same day, as 380 and 

 475 mm. respectively. 



A much simpler pattern than that of the mantle and back is seen on the wing- 

 coverts. On the lesser and median feathers we find two concentric rings and a black 

 margin, the black lines on the latter being very wide. But the greater coverts show a 

 sudden change to oblique or almost transverse cross barring. 



On the scapulars there are four or five concentric black bands, but quite suddenly, 

 on the innermost secondary, we find the transition to oblique cross-barring, and with 

 this, strong, dark, linear mottling in the narrow white interspaces, as if hinting of linear 

 increase as in the rectrices. Thus on the outer secondary we find thirteen or fourteen 

 broad black cross-bars separated by narrow interspaces, all of which are split by a 

 mottled dark line. The primaries show so little white that one must reverse the colour 

 value in describing the pattern. The ground-colour is not black, however, but dark 

 brown, across which numerous narrow, white, oblique bands extend on both webs, each 

 white band split by a mottling or solid bar of brown. 



The above description represents one type of pattern. Another, equally common, 

 shows no dark bar splitting up the cross white bars. A third shows the primary 

 markings so numerous, broken, fine, and wavy that they are rather vermiculations than 

 bars, and defy counting. Bill from nostril, 20 mm. ; wing, 240 to 280 ; tail, 360 to 530 ; 

 tarsus, 90 ; middle toe and claw, 70 ; spurs, 28 mm. 



Immature Males. — A young bird which shows no adult characters is one of the 

 severest and plainest of birds. Forehead and crown brown, unmarked. Occipital 

 feathers rather elongated into a short crest. Feathers of neck all around show a large, 

 central, pale buff area with numerous wavy cross-bars. 



Posteriorly on the mantle, back, rump and wings, this central area merges again 

 with the rest of the feather. The ground-colour is a rufous buff, vermiculated with 

 oblique, fine, wavy black lines. The secondaries are plain dark brown on most of the 

 inner web, and the primaries are wholly brown. The delayed ninth and tenth primaries 

 show irregular white wavy streaks on the inner web, the only hint of the adult plumage. 

 The other rectrices are very irregularly marked with rufous mottling on dark brown. 

 The lower throat and breast show distinct traces of the central lighter area, but all the 

 remaining under surface is identical with the back. 



This is the normal plumage of this moult, but very few individuals show it in 

 perfection. In fact, no two young males are alike, and when the moult has entirely 

 ceased we find all kinds and conditions of infusion of adult patterns and pigment, 

 grafted upon correspondingly more or less strongly marked juvenile plumage. 



The adult character which shows the most pronounced precocity is the black ventral 

 surface, appearing usually as a broad band from the throat to the under tail-coverts. 

 The feathers are as often parti-coloured as black, the brown pigment manifesting itself 

 most frequently as a mottled shaft-stripe and a wide margin. With this character we 

 find correlated a considerable development of the steel blue crest, these feathers being 

 sometimes quite pure, without admixture of brown, this latter colour, when it occurs, 

 being confined to the terminal third of the feathers. The elongated juvenile crest 

 growing side by side detracts from the adult appearance of the flowing blue feathers. 



