MALAYAN OEKITHOLOGY. 20 



the Argus Pheasant is very difficult to tame. 



Once or twice I received information that some of these Phea- 

 sants had been shot ; but on investigation the birds always turned 

 out to be Peacock-Pheasants (Polyplectron bicalcaratwri) ; and I 

 never heard of an Argus being obtained with the gun. 



Besides in Perak, I got specimens from near Thaipeng, in Larut, 

 and from Malacca — at the latter place a sovereign (5 dollars) being 

 the regular charge for a skin. 



While in camp at Kuala Kangsa, we had Argus Pheasants cook- 

 ed on several occasions, and found them capital eating. 



Polyplectron bicalcaratum (Linn.). The Malayan Peacock- 

 Pheasant. 



Not rare in the uninhabited parts of the Peninsula ; the natives 

 snared and brought several to our camp at Kuala Kangsa, and 

 told me that they were very plentiful about two days' journey 

 further up the river. Those in my aviary never became tame, hid- 

 ing directly any one approached ; but they throve remarkably well, 

 feeding on rice and Indian corn. 



Alectrophasis erythrophthalmus (Eaffl.). The Rufous-tailed 

 Pheasant. 



I had one of these Pheasants in my aviary at Kuala Kangsa ; 

 it flourished and became fairly tamed. It fed on rice and Indian 

 corn I got it from the native who had snared it. There were 

 specimens in the Museum, also in the Botanic G-ardens at 

 Singapore. 



Euplocamus vietlloti. The Fire-backed Pheasant. 



A magnificent bird, common in Perak, particularly towards the 

 north. While at Kuala Kangsa, I had them frequently brought 

 in by the Malays, and kept several, both males and females, in 

 my aviary for several months. 



They did well in captivity, becoming tame, and feeding on boiled 

 rice, plantains, jack-fruit, and Indian corn. 



[To be continued. ] 



H. R. KELHAM, 



Captn., 74th Highlanders, 



