166 THE ARGUS PHEASANT, OR GIGANTIC ARGUS. 
also in those of Batavia, by the Baron Cuvier, but 
from imperfect specimens. Dr Latham collects the 
information of his predecessors, and that afforded to 
him by Dr Buchanan, and his figure of the Malay 
Peacock, evidently this bird, is taken from General 
Hardwick’s drawings ; the description in Sonnini’s 
edition of Bufifon is extracted from the Philosophi- 
cal Transactions. M. Temminck appears to have 
been the first to have described this bird, from a se- 
ries of specimens received from Batavia, where, with 
some other birds of splendid plumage, they form an 
article of commerce, and are exported as ornaments 
to different parts of dreBs, screens, or drapery. It 
is a native of Sumatra, probably some others of the 
Indian islands, but principally of the peninsula of 
Malacca ; and although said, generally by ornitholo- 
gical writers, to inhabit China and Chinese Tartary, 
there exists no proof of specimens having been 
brought from thence. 
In size the Argus is not larger than an ordi- 
nary fowl, but the length to the end of the two long 
tail feathers, is five feet three inches, these last be- 
ing of themselves three feet eight inches. It is im- 
possible to convey any idea of the markings and 
blending of the shades on many parts of this bird, 
and the following description will serve as only an 
indication of the colours. The throat, the anterior 
part of the neck, and the cheeks, are naked, or nearly 
so, having only a few black hairs dispersed over them. 
The head and back of the neck are covered with 
