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Show 1878.] THE ORNITHOLOGY OF THE PHILIPPINES. 623 43. OSMOTRERON VERNANS (135). [P. Princesa, $, January 2, 1878: iris (in dead bird) orange; bill lead-grey, base yellow-olive ; feet carmine ; claws grey.] 44. TRERON NASICA. Treron nasica, Schlegel, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. i. p. 67. [P. Princesa, cf 2, January 1878: iris deep brown, with outer ring of burnt sienna-orange ; orbital skin bright emerald-green; base of bill dull crimson, the rest pale greenish-yellow ; feet carmine.] 45. CARPOPHAGA ^ENEA (141). [P. Princesa, cf, January 1878 : iris pure crimson; bill bluish grey ; feet violet-carmine ; nails dark grey. 2 » December 28, 1877: iris deep crimson ; orbital ring crimson; bill light grey ; feet carmine ; nails dark grey.] 46. POLYPLECTRON EMPHANES. Polypectron emphanum, Temm. Pl. Col. 540 ; Elliot, Phasianidse, vol. i. pl. 9. [P. Princesa, cf, January 1878: iris dark rich brown; orbital and loral regions crimson ; bare setigerous skin above the eye livid brown ; bill, including vaulted base of maxilla, very dark brown, tip horny ; legs, feet, and nails purple-brown. Native name " Tandikan." 2 juv.: orbital skin black, otherwise not different from the male.] The male of this beautiful Pheasant was first described and figured by Temminck on the 14th of May, 1831, from a single example in the museum of the Prince of Essling (I. ci). Its habitat was unknown, but was believed to be either one of the Sunda Islands or else one of the Moluccas. In the same year, but earlier, Lesson (Tr. p. 437) enumerated the species under number 47 of the genus Polyplectron, and called it P. napoleonis; but as he gave no description, his title falls. A second specimen of the species was afterwards acquired from Messrs. Verreaux by the British Museum; but the habitat still remained unknown, the late Mr. G. R. Gray giving it as the Moluccas (List Birds B. Mus., Gallinse, 1867, p. 25). Mr. Sclater (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 124) attributed its habitat, with some doubt, to the island of Borneo, in which he was followed by Mr. Elliot (I. ci). Mr. Everett has now cleared up all doubts ; for he has found this Pheasant living in the island of Palawan near the Spanish settlement of Puerto Princesa, and has sent m e three examples-one of the adult male, one of the immature female, and one of an immature male. This is the second instance in which Mr. Everett has established the correct habitat of a little-known and remarkable bird. The young male has the lengthened crest-plumes brown, partially tinged with green. The brilliant bluish-purple wing-coverts and interscapulars of the fully adult are absent, only a trace presenting itself on one covert of each wing. Whereas in the adult the nape and neck are black with brilliant green borders to the feathers, and |
