146 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
deep scarlet, the feathers assume a tint of pale greenish 
azure. The beak is yellow blended with brown, and 
the legs are red. From the tail two white feathers 
branch with a graceful curve, terminating in a black 
circular spot like the tail-feathers of the peacock. The 
white streaks upon the body are on a ground of bluish 
purple, similar in tint to the wings, hut not so dark. 
The bird is about the size of a common dunghill cock. 
The hen is of a reddish brown, with nothing of splen- 
dour in her plumage. 
Several specimens of this beautiful bird have been 
sent to England ; hut every one that I have seen is 
without the two long tail-feathers, which circumstance 
has led many members of the Zoological Society to 
doubt their existence in the living bird. The fact 
is, that in the island of Java, of which the fire- 
pheasant is a native, those feathers are so highly 
valued, that the Javanese invariably pluck them from 
the bird whenever it is obtained, and sell them at 
a high price ; and in proportion as they are difficult 
to procure perfect, they become valuable. This will at 
once account for the specimens sent to Europe being 
generally, if not always, without the tail-feathers. 
