EUPLOCOMUS VIEILLOTI, G.R.Gray. 



Vieillot's Fireback. 



Gallus Ignitus, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., t. 207. 



Phasianus Ignitus, Vieill. Ency. Meth. Orn., Part I. p. 363. pi. 237. fig. 2. 



Euplocomus ignitus, Gray, 111. Ind. Zool., vol. ii. pi. 39. 



Gallophasis Vieilloti, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 498, Gallophasis, sp. 2. 



Euplocomus Vieilloti, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., Part III. p. 26. 



Mr. G. R. Gray has, in my opinion, very properly separated this fine bird from the Gallus ignitus of authors, 

 and assigned to it the specific name of Vieilloti, as no two birds can well be more distinct ; the ignitus having 

 the abdomen and back rich chestnut, with half of the central tail-feathers brown ; while, as will be seen on 

 reference to the accompanying Plate, the same parts in the present bird are very differently coloured. The 

 native country of the E. Vieilloti is the Peninsula of Malacca, Sumatra, and the Indian Archipelago. The 

 fine aviary of the late Earl of Derby formerly contained living examples of both sexes of this fine bird, and 

 I believe his Lordship succeeded in rearing a brood from them ; but owing to the want of a congenial climate, 

 or from some other cause, the race was not perpetuated. A like opportunity has not yet been afforded to 

 the Zoological Society, whose Gardens in the Regent's Park have hitherto only been graced by the male ; a 

 fine example of which now (September 1852) forms part of the collection, is apparently in the best possible 

 state of health, and is the individual figured on the opposite Plate. At the period just prior to the breeding 

 season, this species appears to be subject to influences of a more strongly exciting kind than is observable in 

 any other of the Gallinaceae : not only is it restless in the highest degree, and spirited and exalted in its 

 carriage, but the carunculations surrounding the eye are developed to an extraordinary extent, covering the 

 entire face, extending upwards far above the crown of the head, and descending equally below, the colour 

 being a delicate cserulean blue, in the centre of which is set a full eye of the brightest scarlet. Let us hope 

 that the time will not be long before other examples of this fine bird will be added to the Society's already 

 rich collection, and that a successful result will attend their breeding; for a finer or more ornamental bird 

 for our aviaries could scarcely be found. 



As will be seen, a very marked difference occurs in the colours of the sexes. 



The male has the crest, neck, upper part of the back and breast deep steel-blue ; wing-coverts and 

 feathers on the centre of the back black, passing into greenish steel-blue, forming a conspicuous shining 

 crescent at the tip of each feather; lower part of the rump rich deep shining red; wings very dark 

 brown ; upper tail-coverts steel-blue ; outer webs and tips of the inner webs of the four central tail- 

 feathers white ; the remainder of the tail-feathers very dark brown ; feathers of the flanks dark brown, 

 tipped with steel-blue and with a conspicuous streak of white down the centre ; abdomen brownish black ; 

 carunculated orbits rich blue ; eye red ; bill horn-colour ; legs and feet red. 



The female has the whole of the upper surface, wings and tail chestnut-red, very minutely freckled with 

 dark brown ; feathers of the throat and breast dark brown, largely tipped with chestnut-red, and margined 

 on the sides with white ; on the under surface the feathers are of a darker hue and margined all round with 

 white ; orbits, eye, bill, legs and feet as in the male, but not so brilliant. 



The figures represent the two sexes two-thirds of the natural size. 



