94 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 
full-grown, central tail-feathers of two adult males shot on the same day, as 380 and 
475 mm. respectively. 
A much simpler pattern than that of the mantle and back is seen on the wing- 
coverts. On the lesser and median feathers we find two concentric rings and a black 
margin, the black lines on the latter being very wide. But the greater coverts show a 
sudden change to oblique or almost transverse cross barring. 
On the scapulars there are four or five concentric black bands, but quite suddenly, 
on the innermost secondary, we find the transition to oblique cross-barring, and with 
this, strong, dark, linear mottling in the narrow white interspaces, as if hinting of linear 
increase as in the rectrices. Thus on the outer secondary we find thirteen or fourteen 
broad black cross-bars separated by narrow interspaces, all of which are split by a 
mottled dark line. The primaries show so little white that one must reverse the colour 
value in describing the pattern. The ground-colour is not black, however, but dark 
brown, across which numerous narrow, white, oblique bands extend on both webs, each 
white band split by a mottling or solid bar of brown. 
The above description represents one type of pattern. Another, equally common, 
shows no dark bar splitting up the cross white bars. A third shows the primary 
markings so numerous, broken, fine, and wavy that they are rather vermiculations than 
bars, and defy counting. Bill from nostril, 20 mm. ; wing, 240 to 280; tail, 360 to 530; 
tarsus, 90; middle toe and claw, 70; spurs, 28 mm. 
IMMATURE Ma.es.—A young bird which shows no adult characters is one of the 
severest and plainest of birds. Forehead and crown brown, unmarked. Occipital 
feathers rather elongated into a short crest. Feathers of neck all around show a large, 
central, pale buff area with numerous wavy cross-bars. 
Posteriorly on the mantle, back, rump and wings, this central area merges again 
with the rest of the feather. The ground-colour is a rufous buff, vermiculated with 
oblique, fine, wavy black lines. The secondaries are plain dark brown on most of the 
inner web, and the primaries are wholly brown. The delayed ninth and tenth primaries 
show irregular white wavy streaks on the inner web, the only hint of the adult plumage. 
The other rectrices are very irregularly marked with rufous mottling on dark brown. 
The lower throat and breast show distinct traces of the central lighter area, but all the 
remaining under surface is identical with the back. | 
This is the normal plumage of this moult, but very. few individuals show it in. 
perfection. In fact, no two young males are alike, and when the moult has entirely 
ceased we find all kinds and conditions of infusion of adult patterns and pigment, 
grafted upon correspondingly more or less strongly marked juvenile plumage. 
The adult character which shows the most pronounced precocity is the black ventral 
surface, appearing usually as a broad band from the throat to the under tail-coverts. 
The feathers are as often parti-coloured as black, the brown pigment manifesting itself 
most frequently as a mottled shaft-stripe and a wide margin. With this character we 
find correlated a considerable development of the steel blue crest, these feathers being 
sometimes quite pure, without admixture of brown, this latter colour, when it occurs, 
being confined to the terminal third of the feathers. The elongated juvenile crest 
growing side by side detracts from the adult appearance of the flowing blue feathers. 
