ITHAGINIS GEOFFHOYU, j. verr. 



Geoffroy's Francolin 



Ithaginis Geoffroyii, J. Verr. Bull. Soc. d'Acclim., 2de serie, I867, torn. iv. p. 706.— Elliot, Mon. of Phas. pi. 

 —Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part ii. p. 264.— Swinh. Proc. Zool. Soc, 1871, p. 400. 



It is always a matter of great interest to ornithologists when a new species is discovered of a form of which 

 there was previously but a single representative known ; and it is of equal interest to me to publish in the 

 ' Birds of Asia ' figures of both sexes of the new bird here represented thus early after its existence has been 

 placed on record. Figures and descriptions, together with all the information that has been acquired 

 respecting the bird, have also recently appeared in Mr. Elliot's fine ' Monograph of the Phasianidse ;' and it 

 is with the kind permission of that gentleman that I transcribe and give below the account therein published. 



In my history of the older known species, Ithaginis cruentus, I have assigned to it the trivial name of 

 Sanguine Francolin, while Mr. Elliot, regarding the present bird as a member of the Phasianidce, gives to it 

 that of GeofFroy's Blood-Pheasant. Mr. G. R. Gray, on the other hand, places the two species among the 

 PerdkincB ; thus it will be seen that a difference of opinion exists as to the place this singular and interesting 

 form should occupy among the GallinacecB ; their general contour and the existence of two or more spurs on 

 each of their tarsi induce me to associate them with the Francolins. 



The following is Mr. Elliot's account of Ithaginis Geoffroyii : — 



" This Blood-Pheasant, being only the second species of the genus yet known to ornithologists, was first 

 obtained by M. Dabry, Consul of France at Hankow, who sent his specimens to the Acclimatization Society 

 of Paris. It is not so handsome a bird as its relative, but is interesting as being the only representative of 

 the Himalayan species yet discovered. M. Verreaux, in an article published in the Bulletin of the Accli- 

 matization Society of Paris, says of this Pheasant that ' it is easy to see, by the description we give of the two 

 sexes, that the species is very distinct from the typical one found upon the mountains of the Himalaya, 

 described first by General Hardwicke, in the Linnean Transactions, under the name of Phasiamis cruentus, 

 and later, by Temminck, in the Planches Coloriees, as Perdix cruenta — only that the individual described by 

 the latter author as a female was merely a young male without spurs, having a brown plumage, darker than 

 that of our new species. We are happy to bestow upon this beautiful bird (the second of a genus remaining 

 so long with but a single representative) the illustrious name of Geoffroy as a mark of our esteem and friend- 

 ship for M. Albert Geoffroy St.-Hilaire. It was in the north of China that this fine bird was met with.' 

 No account of the habits or economy has been furnished us ; but, doubtless, as the adventurous naturalists 

 who are pursuing their investigations in those remote parts become more familiar with it in its native 

 haunts, they will forward full accounts of its mode of life, which cannot fail to be interesting to all lovers of 

 Gallinaceous birds. 



" Pere David, who visited Moupin, in North China, after M. Dabry, sent to the Museum at Paris a perfect 

 series, containing many specimens of all ages and both sexes, of this species." 



Male.— -Top of the head lead-colour ; front and line over the eye extending nearly to the ears black ; cheeks 

 lead-colour, with a central streak of white ; throat rufous ; wing-coverts pale green ; shafts white, margined 

 on each side with black ; secondaries grey, mottled near the edges ; primaries brown, all the shafts white ; 

 underparts grey ; centres and ends of feathers light green ; base of feathers black, with grey margins ; 

 abdomen greyish brown ; tail greyish brown, the feathers edged with red ; under tail-coverts black at base, 

 the rest deep red ; shafts white ; bill black ; bare space about the eye, and feet and legs, blood-red. 



Female.— Top of the head, back, and sides of neck lead-colour ; front and throat rufous brown. Entire 

 upper parts brown, finely mottled with light brown ; rump slightly lighter than the back ; underparts reddish- 

 brown, finely mottled with black 5 tail blackish brown, finely mottled with light brown and whitish ; under 

 tail-coverts blackish, with fine lines of light brown ; bill black ; feet and legs red. 



The Plate represents a male, of the natural size, with a reduced figure of a female in the distance. 



