SUMATRA BRONZE-TAILED PEACOCK PHEASANT 51 



plumage. Posteriorly, over the entire upper surface of the body, wings and tail, dark 

 cross-bars develop, on the mid-back there being three or four, on the lesser coverts two, 

 and on the longer six to nine. The ground colour over the same area changes to dull 

 rufous brown. 



On all the wing-coverts, and posteriorly as far as the rump, the buff and black ocelli 

 are well developed on the concealed middle portions of the feathers. 



On the secondaries the black increases until the rufous is reduced to a mottling on 

 the outer webs, and disappears altogether on the primaries. 



The tail-coverts are much like the back, with the rufous brown interspaces more 

 broken into angular lines and spots, and without trace of ocelli. The tails of the birds I 

 have examined are much damaged, but there seem to be sixteen tail-feathers. All have 

 metallic markings, but with the indefiniteness of mopinatus carried still further. The 

 metallic area is of much greater extent than in any other Polyplectron or Chalcurus, but 

 is not set off distinctly from the rufous and black barring. It, however, occupies the 

 area represented by the black cross-bars, and proximally is broken by several of 

 the rufous bars running straight through the metallic area. The extremities of all the 

 rectrices are black, spotted with rufous. The metallic area is least developed on the 

 central rectrices, but on the lateral feathers occupies the greater part of the outer web and 

 over half of the inner. 



Toward the light it is brilliant violet, while away from the light it changes to 

 shining green. 



I rides dark sooty brown ; legs and feet faded blue horn colour. 



Bill from nostril, 10 mm.; wing, 183; tail, 240; tarsus, 65; middle toe and claw, 

 48 mm. One bird had five spurs, all others examined had two on each leg. Average 

 length, 10 mm. 



First Year Male Plumage. — This bird is similar to the adult, except that the shaft 

 ocelli are scarcely developed and the black barring of the back and wings is more irregular 

 and mottled, less clear-cut bars. The metallic colouring is, if anything, more highly 

 developed, occupying more area than in the old males, extending almost or quite to the 

 tip of the feathers. 



Bill from nostril, 10 mm. ; wing, 155 ; tail, 215 ; tarsus, 63 ; middle toe and claw, 

 45 mm. 



Adult Female. — Very similar to the male, but smaller. The chin and throat are 

 more decidedly marked with white, giving a distinct streaked appearance. The crown 

 and face are also streaked, although less distinctly. The dorsal markings are much 

 more irregular and are even less distinctly barred than in the young male, although the 

 pattern of alternate bars of black and dark chestnut is everywhere discernible. The 

 metallic colouring on the tail-feathers is similar to that in the male. 



Bill from nostril, 10 mm. ; wing, 152 ; tail, 188 ; tarsus, 53 ; middle toe and claw, 

 41 mm. 



