ARGUS POLYPLECTRON, 
157 
we are about to describe, and the P.chinquis of Tern- 
minck, for which the old name of Tibetanus should 
be retained. The length of the Argus polyplectron 
is about 18 or 19 inches. The feathers of the fore- 
head are lengthened to a crest, are large, of a brown- 
ish-black, and marked with white at the base. All 
the rest of the head and neck is covered with short 
feathers, of a dull black. The throat is whitish ; and 
the cheeks and space surrounding the eyes is freer 
from feathers than those parts in the remaining spe- 
cies. The back, scapularies, and wing-coverts, are 
of a yellowish-brown, thickly sprinkled with black 
spots, and having at the tip of each feather an eyed 
spot of a rich bluish-green. The breast, belly, vent, 
and thighs, are umber-brown, having the shafts white. 
The quills are dull brown. The tail, composed of 
two ranges of feathers, and rounded, is of the same 
colour with the back, thickly mottled with black, 
and has the tip of each feather rufous, blotched witli 
deep black. Near the end of each feather are the 
two beautiful eye-like spots, of a brilliant green, 
placed close together, and surrounded with a circle 
of black. 
This bird, which is far from being common, is a 
native of Malacca ; most probably also China and 
the Indian Islands. It may be easily distinguished 
from the P. Tibetanus, its nearest ally, by the less 
size, the comparative bareness of the cheeks, its larger 
crest, and the different form of the feathers compos- 
