Order  V.  GALLINJE. 
Family  III.  Phastaxidje. 
The  second  Subfamily, 
PHASIANINiE,  or  Pheasants, 
have  the  Tail  more  or  less  lengthened,  greatly  cuneated,  and  composed  of  narrow  and  cuneated  feathers. 
Argus  Temm.* 
Bill  as  long  as  the  head,  much  compressed  on  the  sides,  with  the  base  straight,  and  the  tip  vaulted 
and  curved  ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  placed  in  a  large  nasal  groove,  and  the  opening  partly  closed  by  a 
membrane.  Wings  short  and  rounded,  with  the  seventh  and  eighth  quills  the  longest ;  the  secondaries 
much  longer  than  the  quills,  especially  those  of  the  male.  Tail  long  and  compressed,  with  the  two 
middle  feathers  much  lengthened  and  attenuated.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  slender,  and  without 
spurs,  the  front  covered  with  transverse  scales.  Toes  long,  the  anterior  ones  united  at  the  base  by  a 
membrane,  the  outer  toe  longer  than  the  inner,  and  the  hind  toe  short  and  elevated ;  the  claws  short, 
compressed,  and  slightly  curved.  The  head  and  neck  partly  naked,  and  covered  only  with  scattered 
hairs. 
The  magnificent  type  of  this  genus  is  found  in  the  dense  forests  of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  where  it  lives  in  pairs. 
A.  giganteus  Temm.  —  Phasianus  argus  Linn. ;  Argus  pavonicus  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  203. 
Phasianus  Linn.f 
Bill  moderate,  strong,  elevated  and  straight  at  the  base,  vaulted  and  slightly  arched  at  the  tip, 
which  conceals  that  of  the  lower  mandible  ;  the  nostrils  basal,  lateral,  placed  in  a  nasal  groove,  and  the 
opening  partly  closed  by  a  membrane.  Wings  short  and  rounded,  with  the  first  quills  equally  narrowed 
towards  their  tips,  and  the  fourth  and  fifth  the  longest.  Tail  more  or  less  lengthened,  and  much 
cuneated,  and  the  end  of  each  feather  attenuated.  Tarsi  the  length  of  the  middle  toe,  robust,  and 
covered  in  front  with  broad  scales  which  are  divided  in  the  middle ;  the  male  armed  with  a  strong  spur. 
Toes  moderate,  strong ;  the  base  united  by  a  membrane,  and  the  outer  toe  longer  than  the  inner ;  the 
hind  toe  short  and  elevated  ;  the  claws  short,  strong,  and  slightly  curved. 
The  mountainous  districts  of  Asia  extending  even  to  J apan  are  the  native  countries  of  these  birds,  but  some  of  the 
species  have  become  naturalised  in  the  temperate  parts  of  Europe.  They  are  found  lying  concealed  during  the  day  in 
the  jungles,  thick  covers,  or  long  grass,  living  in  divided  societies  of  each  sex.  Towards  the  spring  they  separate  into 
families  consisting  of  a  male  and  several  females,  and  the  party  generally  takes  possession  of  a  certain  locality,  from 
*  Established  by  M.  Temminck  in  1815  {Hist.  Nat.  Pig.%  Gall.  iii.  678.). 
t  Established  by  Linnaeus  in  1748  (Systema  Natitrre).    It  includes  Syrmaticus  of  Wagler  (1832). 
