SUPERB PHEASANT. 237 



wedge-shaped, its two middle feathers whitish, barred with 

 black. 



Phasianus superbus. Linn. Mant. lyjX. p. 526. — Gmel. Si/st. 

 Nat. 1. 744. 7. — Lath, Ind. Orn. 2. 628. 2.'—Temm. Gall. Ltd, 

 671. 



Phasianus varius. Shaw. Nat. Misc. v. 10. 

 Faisan superbe. Temm. Pig. et Gall. 2. 336. 

 Superb Pheasant. Lalh. Gen. Si/n. 4. yog. 2. — Lath. Syn. Sup, 

 LL. 273. 1. — Shaiv. Nat. Misc. \0. pi. 353. 



This splendidly magniticent bird, if the accounts 

 that are given of its plumage be faithful, is con- 

 fessedly the most remarkable of the genus. It is 

 described by Linneus from the various repre- 

 sentations of it painted on paper hangings and 

 China ware, and confirmed by a figure and descrip- 

 tion in a Chinese book which came under his 

 inspection. It is said to have a red beak : on the 

 forehead is a red caruncle, somewhat rounded in 

 shape, and two wattles of a blood-red colour under 

 the chin, as in the Cock : the crown of the head 

 is green ; at the hind part a folded crest, of a 

 blue colour : the hind part of the neck is green ; 

 on each side furnished with long variegated 

 feathers, which stand out from the neck, and turn 

 backwards : the shoulders are green, spotted with 

 white : the wings red : primary quills blue : the 

 body is red: the tail long, and wedge-shaped: 

 the feathers are blue and red mixed ; and the 

 coverts are of several colours, and fall over the 

 sides of it : the legs are yellow, and without 

 spurs. 



Temminck considers the long feathers that 

 arrive from China as belonging to this species, and 



