loss of time. Since writing the above, the Prime Minister, or Kalahome (the most gentlemanly of the Sia- 

 mese Ministers and officials), has called on me. He tells me the Pheasant is found at Rapri or Raxaburi 

 (according to Sir John Bowring's map in lat. 13° 33' N. ; long., say 100° E.)." 



With regard to the bird's affinities to the other groups of the GallinacecB, it is most nearly allied to Euplo- 

 eomus, — indeed, it can scarcely be separated from that form ; but Mr. Blyth has proposed for it a new 

 generic title, that of Diar dig alius, and Bonaparte has followed in his wake. Mr. Blyth had the living bird 

 before him, from which to draw his conclusions, and he states that the tail-feathers turn outwards, like those 

 of the Black Cock. If such be the case, the bird differs from the members of the genus Euplocomus, whose 

 tails are carried vertically, after the manner of those of the Domestic Cock. 



Face and wattles naked, and of a brilliant red ; line down the centre of the head, ear-coverts, nape, and 

 chin dull black ; shafts of the crest-feathers black, their feathered tips steel-blue ; neck, breast, shoulders, 

 and upper half of the back slate-grey, very minutely freckled with greyish white ; wing-coverts and scapularies 

 slate-grey, more conspicuously freckled with greyish white, and with a narrow line of white, succeeded by a 

 broad fascia of black across the tip; feathers of the centre of the back slate-grey, freckled with white at the 

 base, and largely tipped with lustrous golden yellow, only the latter colour showing, and forming a conspicuous 

 patch ; feathers of the lower part of the back, and the upper tail-coverts black at the base, with a broad 

 band of shining steel-blue near the tip, succeeded by a broader band at the tip of rich deep fiery crimson 

 red, these bands alone being seen and changing in hue and in intensity as the position is varied ; wings 

 dark grey, minutely freckled with light grey ; primaries brown, freckled on their outer margins with light 

 grey ; tail-feathers glossy oil-green ; feathers covering the abdomen and flanks black, margined with steel- 

 blue ; thighs black ; bill greenish horn-colour ; legs and feet deep red, the spaces between the scales paler ; 

 nails horny flesh-colour ; spur dark horn-colour. 



The figure is rather less than the natural size. In the distance I have given a reduced copy of Mr. Craw- 

 furd's drawing, in case it should prove to be a representation of the female of this bird ; of course the 

 brown-coloured figure is the one referred to. 



