604 Desiderata for European Collections. 



G alius Stanly anus, as well as the Malabar hen, Gallus 

 Banksivus, are three superior kinds of the common poultry, 

 some of them twenty-six inches in height. 



The Chittagong poultry, celebrated in India for their 

 size, is probably a mixture of these breeds. 



20. Other birds of this division are so remarkable for 

 their beauty, that independent of any direct utility, they must 

 always be regarded as objects of interest ; such are P. melo- 

 nocephalus ; this bird is red below, grey above, with a black 

 head and crest, and all parts of the body covered with 

 ornamental spots. It is brought down to Assam from the 

 Abor mountains ; it also occurs in the higher parts of the 

 Himalaya. 



Polyplectron HardwicMi, or Peacock pheasant, an inhabi- 

 tant of Lower Assam and the Sylhet jungles. 



Phasianaus purvasia, a grey bird with flowing lance- 

 shaped plumage and a drooping crest. It is found in Ke- 

 maon and Nipal, and is larger than any of the other phea- 

 sants. 



21. The Japan Peafowl, as it is called, but which neverthe- 

 less is very common in the forests of Arracan, is equal to the 

 ordinary peafowl in size and appearance, with this additional 

 ornament, its head is decorated with the brightest yellow 

 and purple tints that can be imagined ; when caught they 

 become as domestic, and thrive as well as the ordinary 

 peafowl. It is singular, notwithstanding the ease with which 

 this bird may be procured, and its contentment in confine- 

 ment, that it should be mentioned by Lord Derby as one of 

 their desiderata in collections at home.* The Pigeons of 



* Since this was written a pair of these beautiful peafowls has been 

 procured from the Chittagong Jungles by Christopher Webb Smith, 

 Esq. of the Civil Service ; a third individual has also been presented 

 by Capt. Bogle, forming part of the collection already alluded to as hav- 

 ing been received for the Society from Arracan. 



