BAMBUSICOLA HYPERYTHRA, Skarpe. 



Rufous-breasted Bamboo-Partridge. 



Bambusicola hyperythra, Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 266. 



This handsome bird was discovered by Mr. W. H. Treacher on the Lawas river in North-western Borneo, 

 and forms the third remarkable species of game-bird which the English naturalists have discovered on thai 

 river during the last few years. To those ornithologists who consider that our knowledge of the avifauna 

 of Borneo is gradually becoming complete, it is only necessary to point to the very interesting discoveries 

 which have been made by Governor Ussher and Acting-Governor Treacher since their appointments to the 

 British colony of Labuan. There can be no doubt that much still remains to be done in that great island, 

 whence have been brought to our notice in the short space of five years a new Polyplectroji, the extraordinary 

 Bulwer's Pheasant, and the equally interesting new species of game-birds which are figured for the first 

 time in the present work. Mr. Sharpe has placed this species in the genus Bambusicola, and states that 

 the nearest ally which he has found exists in my Bambusicola sonoriwai from Formosa ; but a glance at the 

 plates of the two birds will show that it is a very different species from the last named. As Mr. Treacher 

 is still continuing his exertions in collecting birds in North-western Borneo, we may hope to be furnished 

 with additional specimens of this fine species ; but at present there is nothing to say with respect to its habits 

 and economy. 



I translate the description given by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe in ' The Ibis ' : — 



" Upper surface olive-brown, banded across with black, more broadly on the lower back and rump ; 

 wing-coverts dark brown, broadly tipped with olive-brown, the greater coverts dull rufous at their ends ; 

 primaries brown, externally broadly margined with dull rufous or rufous brown ; the secondaries, however, 

 tipped with black, and subterminally banded across with pale olive-brown, the innermost pale whity-brown 

 near the tip; tail dark brown ; top of the head and nape black, produced in a narrow band down the hind 

 neck ; lores, as well as a narrow eyebrow and a broad band running down the sides of the neck, dull 

 ashy-grey ; a narrow black line running above and below the eye, and joining a broad black band which 

 runs down the sides of the neck ; ear-coverts and hind part of cheeks dull ashy-grey ; fore part of cheeks 

 and under surface of body chestnut red ; the flanks rather more orange, and variegated by black feathers with 

 a large subterminal spot of white of an oval shape ; middle of the abdomen whitish; under wing-coverts 

 ashy-brown, the axillaries tipped with whitish. Total length 105 inches, culmen 0*85, wing 5'2, tail 22, 

 tarsus 1-6." 



As in the case of HcematortyoD sanguiniceps, I have to thank Professor Rolleston for allowing me to figure 

 the unique specimen in the Oxford Museum. The principal figure in the Plate is life-size. 



