68 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



irregularly, merging insensibly with the feathers of the rump. This line of rectrice-like 

 feathers is separated from the succeeding coverts by as much as 13 mm., while they are 

 closely apposed to the line of rectrices, only about 4 mm. separating them. In a bird 

 with twenty rectrices there are eighteen feathers in the secondary line of display. The 

 importance of this character may be judged by the length of the inner and outer 

 feathers : 



Outer covert ....... 77 mm. 



Outer rectrice ....... 165 



Inner covert ....... 200 



Inner rectrice ....... 330 



The two outer feathers in the line of coverts show no ocelli ; in the next the ocelli 

 are large brown spots with dark centres, the remaining coverts showing pairs of perfect 

 ocelli. When the bird is in full frontal display, as I have described elsewhere, this line 

 of eyed coverts forms an inner ring of spots below those of the tail, but flattened against 

 those feathers. The caudal ocelli are rather oval, and are ordinarily wholly green, 

 changing to purple. The number of tail-feathers actually varies from twenty to twenty- 

 four in adult males. The usual number is twenty-two. This variation has nothing to 

 do with locality or age, and the sequence of moult is unaffected either by the lesser or 

 the greater number. 



The anterior part of the face is bare, except for a scattering of short, stiff featherlets. 

 The chin and throat are pure white, changing abruptly into a narrow zone of white- 

 tipped feathers on the lower throat and around the face. The lower parts are brown, 

 with several successive dotted bands, alternating with clear brown interspaces, the bands 

 curved, following the contour of the feather tips, producing a general wavy effect of the 

 ventral plumage. 



Mandible, dark horny brown on upper and tip of lower ; cere and base of lower 

 mandible pale yellowish or pinkish. Facial skin yellowish or pinkish ; irides pale 

 yellowish to dead white ; legs and feet leaden black. The adult males usually have two 

 spurs on each leg, but this is occasionally varied. The general proportion of number 

 of spurs, taken from a large series of birds, is 2 + 2 = 70 per cent. ; 2 + i = 20 per cent. ; 

 1 + 1=5 per cent. ; 3 + 2 = 5 per cent. They are sharp and slender, but of moderate 

 length, never exceeding 10 or 12 mm. Weight, i lb. 8 ozs. Length, 680 to 750 mm.; 

 bill from nostril, 13; wing, 215 to 230; tail, 355 to 430; tarsus, 75; middle toe and 

 claw, 57 mm. 



Adult Female. — The hen Grey Peacock Pheasant is a much smaller bird than 

 her mate, the relative proportions being two-thirds as regards length, and with a tail 

 not much more than one-half as long. 



The elevated head-feathers are less disintegrated, more distinctly barred with buffy 

 white, and are not recurved, so that the crest is much less conspicuous than in the other 

 sex. The chin and throat are white. The neck all around and upper mantle are dark 

 brown, finely barred with irregular markings of a pale buffy brown, and in about fifty 

 per cent, of individuals the shafts of these feathers are conspicuously white. 



The primaries and their greater coverts are dull brown, unmarked. The remainder 

 of the mantle and wings is brownish black, with several irregular, speckled, transverse 



