200 THE BLACK-BREASTED KALIJ. 



Of THIS SPECIES, also, I have but few measurements recorded 

 in the flesh : — 



Males (3). — Length, 23*0, 24*0, 24*8 ; expanse, 29*5, 30*0, 

 30*4 ; wing, 9*0, 9*6, io*o ; tail from vent, 9*0, io*o, 1075 ; 

 tarsus, 3*2, 3*25 ; bill from gape, 1*37, 1*5 ; spur, 075 to ro. 

 Weight, 2 lbs. 14 ozs., 3lbs. 



Females (2). — Length, 21*0, 22*5 ; expanse, 26*0, 29*0; wing, 

 8*5, 9*o; tail from vent, 775, 8*5; tarsus, 3-0, 3*05; bill from 

 gape, 1*15, 1*3. Weight, 2 lbs. 6 ozs. 



The irides are reddish brown ; the legs and feet vary from 

 plumbeous, or leaden blue, to light horny, in some browner, in 

 some more fleshy; the bill greenish horny, paler at tip, dusky 

 towards the base ; nude orbital skin crimson. 



The Plate, as usual, fails to exhibit the natural tints of the 

 bill and legs, but otherwise the picture of the male is fair. 



THERE IS some difficulty in discriminating the females of the 

 several Kalij Pheasants, and I cannot say that I think our 

 plates will much facilitate their determination. Dr. Scully, in 

 his note already quoted, has dwelt upon the differences which 

 characterize the female of the Nepal bird, and I will endeavour to 

 explain briefly how the females of the other three species differ. 

 Generally it may be said that the females of albocristatus 

 are lighter, those of melanonotus darker, and those of horsfieldi 

 more rufescent. In albocristatus, the crest of the female, when 

 fully developed, is generally longer and greyer than in either of 

 the other two ; the tail-feathers are less rufescent, and much 

 more boldly vermicellated ; the pale tippings to the breast- 

 feathers and coverts contrast much less strongly, as a rule, than 

 do the similar tippings in melanonotus. In melanonotus, the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts, as a rule, harmonize well with the central 

 tail-feathers. In horsfieldi, the former are much lighter and 

 more olive, the latter darker and more ferruginous, and thus 

 contrast together strongly. As a rule, the central tail-feathers of 

 horsfieldi are almost perfectly plain, and are deep ferruginous ; 

 those of melanonotus deep brown, with a ferruginous tinge, and 

 feebly vermicellated ; those of albocristatus olive brown, with 

 only a faint ferruginous tinge, and boldly vermicellated ; but 

 none of these points hold absolutely good ; and though by 

 bearing all in mind any specimen can be discriminated at once, 

 I have failed, after examining a large series, to detect any one 

 single constant difference in the dry skins that can, by itself, 

 be relied on to separate specimens. 



