JAPAN PEACOCK. 



149 



forming the train, are shorter and less brilliant 

 than in the preceding species ; they are of a ches- 

 nut-brown, with white shafts, and have at the end 

 of each a large spot, gilded in the middle, then 

 blue, and surrounded with green : the legs are of 

 a brownishrcolour, and in the male furnished with 

 a spur. The female appears to be unknown, that 

 described as one by Buffon being (according to 

 Temminck) a male at moult. The voice of this 

 bird differs greatly from that of the common 

 species. 



This species was originally described by Al- 

 drovandus, from a painting sent by the Emperor 

 of Japan to the Pope : and for a long period its 

 existence was doubted : but Le Vaillant had the 

 good fortune to observe one, in a menagerie at 

 the Cape of Good Hope, that was brought from 

 Macao. 



Japan is stated to be its native place. 



