A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



(Ophyrzia, Coturnix, Francolinus) ; also the pectoral black {Caccabis). The primitive 

 condition of the male's crest, differing so slightly in hue and shape from that of the 

 hen, is also a partridge or francolin character. Among the more typical pheasants, 

 the crown is a very favoured place for elaborate secondary sexual characters — combs, 

 crests and plumes. 



The blue-grey is far too widespread a character of gallinaceous birds to point in 

 any definite direction. The females show this on the nape, while it comprises most 

 of the colour of the upper parts of the males. This hue almost vanishes when viewed 

 by transmitted light, appearing only as a black pigment in the barbs, showing that it 

 is undoubtedly wholly a structural colour. The peculiar non-iridescent apple-green is 

 a colour almost .unique in the Order Galliformes, the nearest approach being the female 

 of Rollulus roulroul. The irregular number of spurs leads away from the pheasants 

 proper toward Galloperdix, although Polyplectron also shows this peculiarity. Jerdon 

 says, rather ingeniously, of Ithagenes, " From its small size and numerous spurs, it 

 may be considered as holding the same relationship to the Pheasants as Polyplectron 

 does to Peafowl or as Spurfowl to Junglefowl." This suggested relationship is, 

 however, rather a parallelism than an actual affinity. The eggs remind us both 

 of Tragopan and Coturnix. 



As we shall see, the first individual of this genus was described by Hardwicke 

 ninety-five years ago under the all-embracing generic name of Phasianus. In the 

 year 1832 Wagler very properly instituted a distinct genus, Ithaginis, for the bird, 

 and ten years later Agassiz amended this incorrect transliteration by a change to 

 Ithagenes. 



ITHAGENES 



Ithaginis Wagl., Isis, 1832, p. 1228 . 

 Plectropus Less., Comp. Buffon, VII. 1836, p. 355 

 Plectrophorus Gray, List Gen. B., 1840, p. 61. . 

 Itaginis Reichenb., Nat. Syst. Vog., 1852, p. xxviii. 

 Ithagenes Sund., Av. Teut, 1872, p. 115 . 



Type. 

 Ithaginis cruentus. 



Ithagenes cruentus. 



The genus Ithagenes is a well-marked group inhabiting the highest mountain 

 ranges of central Asia. Six species are known, at least two of which are divisible 

 into subspecies. Future exploration will undoubtedly increase the number of forms. 

 The following Blood Partridges are recognized in the present work — 



Nepal Himalayan Blood Partridge . 

 Sikhim Himalayan Blood Partridge 

 Tibetan Blood Partridge . 

 Kuser's Blood Partridge 

 Geoffroy's Blood Partridge 

 Wilson's Blood Partridge . 

 David's Northern Blood Partridge 

 Michael's Northern Blood Partridge . 

 Berezowski's Northern Blood Partridge 



Ithagenes cruentus cruentus (Hardwicke). 



„ cruentus affinis Beebe. 



„ tibetanus Baker. 



„ kuseri Beebe. 



» geoffroyi Verreaux. 



„ wilsoni Thayer and Bangs. 



„ sinensis sinensis David. 



„ sinensis michaclis Bianchi. 



, sinensis berezowskii Bianchi. 



