PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



that the two specimens in the British Museum are the only- 

 representatives known of this species. Considerably smaller 

 than the Great Argus, it also presents various differences in 

 the markings of its feathers which would seem to entitle it 

 to be separated from its longer-known ally. Unfortunately, 

 its habitat is not known with any degree of certainty, as it 

 is doubtful if the two specimens we have come from Borneo, 

 but it is pretty certain that he has come from the localities 

 where Argtis Giganteus is found, else we should have found 

 more examples of the species before this time. The principal 

 differences between this bird and the larger species consists 

 in the deep red breast and under parts, bright chestnut of the 

 lower part of the neck, the black tail, the small size of the 

 ocellated spots, and also of the dots on the wing and tail, 

 together with the prevalence of white on the back. The 

 other specimen, which appears to be a young male, has the 

 lower part of the breast a yellowish-brown, finely barred with 

 black, the upper portion a light chestnut-red like the more 

 adult bird. The tail is mottled with brown, two of the 

 feathers presenting the white spots. 



" The species may be described as follows : — 

 " Bill, horn colour ; base of the upper mandible, black. A 

 narrow line of black hair-like feathers commences at the bill 

 and continues over the top of the head and down the back of 

 the neck, elongated on the occiput, so as to form a crest. 

 The rest of the head and upper part of the neck, bare; 

 lower portion of the neck and upper part of the breast, 

 bright chestnut-red ; under parts, entirely chestnut, darker 

 on the flanks, each feather irregularly marked with white, 

 bordered on each side with black ; upper portion of the 

 back and wings, blackish, confusedly marked with white; 

 rest of the back and upper part of the coverts, dark buff, 

 covered with round black spots. The wings resemble those 



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