THE RUFOUS-TAILED PHEASANT. 
Euplocamus erythrophthalmus. 
Plate XXXIV. 
The female of this Pheasant is a very singular bird, differing, as will be seen by reference to Mr. Wolf’s figure, 
from the male in having the whole plumage of a nearly uniform purply black, instead of a sober hue of brown, 
as is usual in the other species of this group. It is, moreover, remarkable for its large spurs, which are not 
generally so much developed in the female sex. Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that 
it has usually been considered as specifically different from its rufous-tailed mate, and it is only lately that I 
have convinced myself that the two forms are nothing more than sexes of one and the same species. Such, 
however, is, I believe, without doubt, the case; and a short time since we had both cocks and hens of this 
species in the Society’s Aviaries, and much hopes of inducing them to continue their race. These expectations 
have been frustrated through the unfortunate loss' of the females, so that we must await the arrival of •fresh 
birds from the East before we can expect to succeed in breeding this fine species in Europe. 
The Rufous-tailed Pheasant is a native of Sumatra and the Malayan Peninsula, where it was first 
discovered and made known to science through the exertions of the late Sir Stamford Raffles. Skins of this 
bird are frequently to be met with in collections from Malacca, so that it would appear not to be an uncommon 
bird in the vicinity of that Settlement. 
A nearly allied, but perhaps still finer species ( E. pyronotas), is found in Borneo, distinguishable from the 
present bird by having the plumage below ornamented with white shaft-spots. The female of the Bornean 
bird is of a nearly uniform glossy black, like that of the present species. 
