CHALCOPHASIS SCLATERI. 



Sclater's Monaul. 



Lophophorus Sclateri, Jerd. Ibis, 1870, p. 147.— Idem, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 1870, p. 61.— Sclat. Proc. of Zool. 



Soc. 1870, p. 162, pi. xiv.— Elliot, Mon. of Phas., vol. i. pi. xx. 

 QChalcophasis) Sclateri, G. R. Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part ii. p. 261. 



It is beyond the eastern extremity of our Indian territories that we must look for the present fine bird, 

 where it will doubtless be found in as great an abundance as the Lophophorus Impeijanus and L. VHuysi are 

 in their respective habitats. At present, however, as will be seen in the sequel, a single example of 

 this species is all that has yet been discovered. This was brought down from the hills to a country fair 

 in the valley of Assam, where it was seen by the late Dr. Jerdon, who at once perceived that, although in a 

 very indifferent state of plumage, it was an object of great interest and value. From Assam it was 

 safely conveyed to Calcutta, and afterwards to England, where it lived and moulted more than once, in the 

 gardens of the Zoological Society, and where the Fellows and their friends and thousands of visitors had an 

 opportunity of seeing this fine object in a living state. Ornithologists noted that it was very peculiar in its 

 actions and economy, and were at a loss to know why a bird of such moping habits, and of such a heavy and 

 inelegant gait, should have been clothed in so resplendent a dress ; yet such is the case, and I quite agree 

 with Mr. Elliot's view when he assigned it a separate distinctive generic title ; for it certainly does not 

 assimilate to the Lophophori, whose movements are at once sprightly and attractive. 



Time, and time alone, can unfold to us a correct account of this remarkable bird, as it has done of many 

 other of nature's manifold wonders. 



Although, as will be seen, Mr. Elliot subsequently changed its generic appellation, he commences his 

 account of the bird by saying : — " This constitutes the third species of the genus Lophophorus, which is distin- 

 guished by comprising the most brilliantly coloured of the Phasianidse. Sclater's Monaul, however, is not so 

 handsome as either of the other two species, being destitute of the greater portion of the metallic hues which 

 cause its relatives to be such attractive objects. The only specimen known, which is now living in the gar- 

 dens of the Zoological Society of London, was obtained in Upper Assam, described by Dr. Jerdon, and 

 forwarded by him to the Society. 



" I am favoured by Dr. Jerdon with the following short account of the species, which comprises all that 

 is known regarding it. * At Suddya, our frontier station at the head of the valley of Assam, a Nula, or Fair, 

 is held annually in February, to which most of the hill tribes come and are entertained by the Deputy Com- 

 missioners of the district at the expense of the Government, and get presents of rum, opium, salt, tobacco, 

 &c. A living specimen of the Ceriornis Blythii was brought down and given to the Deputy Commissioner 

 Major Stewart whilst I was with him, by some of the Mishmi tribes. At the same time and place Major 

 Steward also received one living specimen of the Lophophorus Sclateri. It was in very bad plumage ; and 

 though I saw at once it was a distinct species, I could not then describe it. He brought it to Shillong and 

 gave it to Major Montagu. It moulted when in the possession of that gentleman. I was then enabled to 

 describe it briefly in ' The Ibis.' I persuaded Major Montagu to allow me to forward it, in his name, to the 

 Zoological Society. I took charge of it in November, brought it safely to Calcutta, and kept a servant of 

 my own to look after it and the specimen of Ceriornis Blythii until they were put on board a steamer. They 

 were very tame, and fed readily from the hand. They were particularly fond of the leaves of lettuce and 

 cabbage ; I fed them with rice and maize.' 



" Sclater's Monaul cannot be said to be very graceful : the body is thick and heavy, and the legs short ; 

 the head is also large for the size of the bird, causing it to present a rather stupid appearance, quite 

 different from the game-like heads of the other members of this family, and even of those to which it is 

 nearest allied. From its not possessing the lengthened crest which is so characteristic and so elegant an 

 appendage to the other two species of this genus, and also from the peculiar bronze hue of the back, I have 

 deemed it best to include this one in a separate subgeneric division under the appellation of Chalcophasis, or 

 Bronze Pheasant. 



" Top of the head covered by a short recurved green crest ; occiput, cheeks, throat, and entire underparts 

 deep velvety black ; back of the neck red, becoming orange-yellow on the lower part ; back and wings 

 metallic green, with blue and purple reflections ; shoulders reddish bronze ; primaries brownish black ; rump 

 white, with narrow black lines running lengthwise in the centre of the feathers ; upper tail-coverts white ; 

 tail deep chestnut, tipped with white; bare skin of the face deep blue, covered with spots of black hair-like 

 feathers; legs and feet brown ; bill greenish horn-colour." 



The front figure is about two thirds of the natural size. 



