152 



ARGUS POLYPLECTRON. 



six : and frequently the same bird has a different 

 number on each leg, individuals mentioned by 

 Temminck possessing three on one, and two on 

 the other : these spurs are frequently joined to- 

 gether at their base, but it is generally either the 

 two upper or the two lower that undergo that 

 change. Another curious fact relating to this 

 species is, that the tail is composed of two distinct 

 ranges or tiers of long feathers ; the lowest being 

 the true tail : these feathers are capable of being 

 erected when the bird is agitated, but at other 

 times they remain in a horizontal position. 



It is about the size of the Painted Pheasant : 

 length twenty-three inches, of which the tail is 

 upwards of ten : the head and the top of the neck 

 are of a brown-grey, getting brighter on the 

 throat : the feathers on the lower part of the 

 neck, the breast, and the belly, are of a dull 

 brown, with transverse undulated bands of dusky 

 brown : the greater wing-feathers are brown, va- 

 ried with an earthy grey ; the rest of them, as also 

 those of the shoulders, are of a yellowish grey, va- 

 ried with small dusky brown bands ; each feather 

 possessing towards its extremity a brilliant round 

 spot, of a green^blue colour, changing to splendid 

 gold and purple, according to the disposition of 

 the light, in some aspects vying with the opal ^ 

 these spots are surrounded by a circle of black, 

 and another of yellowish white, with which latter 

 colour the tip of each feather is adorned : the 

 back, the rump, and the upper tail-coverts, are 

 clear brown, spotted and transversely undulated 



