GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 8l 



less than two feet long, with a ten-inch wing and 

 tail of only eight inches. 



This pheasant only just comes within our area, 

 inhabiting Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, 

 whence it extends into the most southern part of 

 Tenasserim. It inhabits evergreen forests, and 

 is found in small parties of about half-a-dozen, 

 though the males are sometimes solitary. They 

 buzz with their wings like the kaleeges. Like 

 them also, they are vicious birds ; a very fine speci- 

 men shown me by a native gentleman in Cal- 

 cutta, which had been kept for more than twelve 

 years, was confined in a cage for attacking one of 

 the servants — whose wrist it had ripped open with 

 its spur — when allowed to run at large. Another 

 of the species, in Rutledge's possession and also 

 allowed liberty, was, when I last saw it, walking 

 round and round an old native in a manner 

 which boded an attack. It was interesting to 

 see that the bird's fighting attitude was exactly- 

 like what would be the show position before a hen. 

 The blue face-skin was expanded, and the slanting 

 pose assumed, so as to keep the copper back always 

 in full view of the spectator on whom the bird 

 was intent. 



Little seems to be known of the Fire-back 

 altogether ; our information about its breeding 

 has been furnished by a captive hen, which laidj 

 in July, a buff egg a little over two inches long. 



Bornean Fire-back. 



Lophura ignita, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol. XXII, 

 p. 288 ; Sempidan, in Sarawak. 



This has a general resemblance to the last, but differs conspicu- 

 ously by having the upper tail-feathers bufi and the under-parts 



E 



