Order GALLIFORMES 

 Family PHASIANIDAE 



Subfamily ARGUSIANINAE 



The character upon which I base this subfamily is the moult of the tail-feathers. 

 In all the wild birds in moult which I have examined the sequence is from the third 

 from the central pair, simultaneously outward and inward. The tail-feathers number 

 from twelve to twenty-four. 



The plumage in general is grey, brown and black, with rarely metallic patches. 

 Ocelli are always present, more highly developed in the male, and occurring on the 

 wings, tail, or body, or on all these areas. The side of the face is often bare, and 

 usually of a reddish colour. Secondary sexual characters, aside from pattern and 

 colour, may take the form of multiple spurs, a crest, or these may be absent ; or the 

 secondaries and central tail-feathers may be enormously lengthened. The contour 

 plumage is soft and lax. The courtship is frontal, and the usual number of 

 eggs is two. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Rectrices with ocelli or eye-like spots. 



a Central rectrices pointed and slightly elongated Chalcurus 



b Central rectrices rounded and short Polyplectron 



II. Rectrices without ocelli or eye-like spots, 



a Secondaries shorter than the primaries Rheinardius 



b Secondaries longer than the primaries Argusianus 



