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Show 404 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON NEW PHEASANTS. [Julie 9, the tip. Abdomen brownish black. Under tail-coverts red. Central tail-feathers rufous brown, with short narrow black bars next the shaft, but not on the same line on both webs, and continued across the web by a bar of chestnut joining the black. Outer webs of lateral feathers similar; inner webs light brown, mottled with black, and barred at regular intervals with the same colour. Bill yellowish horn-colour. Feet and tarsi greyish. Total length from base of bill to tail 16 inches ; wings 9 inches ; tail about 15 inches, bill, culmen 1| in., at gape 1| in. ; tarsus 2| in. ; middle toe 2 in. Hab. Yarkand, Eastern Turkestan. This interesting species appears to be very common in Yarkand, as Mr. Shaw states that he shot many of them, and, indeed, mistook it for the common Phasianus colchicus. To one who had not been accustomed to examine Pheasants at all critically this conclusion would be a very natural one, although the P. shawii differs in almost every respect from the better-known species. It is one of the most interesting discoveries yet made among the gallinaceous birds, affording links in the chain of descent, connecting the various species of true Phasianus together, which were heretofore entirely wanting. There is strong reason to believe that this new form of P. shawii is the original stock (looking at the subject in a Darwinian point of view) from which all the known species of Phasianus have sprung. By the newly discovered forms of P. sladeni, Andersson MS., from the province of Yun-nan, it would appear to exhibit the direction towards P. versicolor, and through Mr. Swinhoe's P. decollatus to the true P. torquatus, as known to ornithologists. On the other hand, by the next species, P. insignis, it bears off to P. mongolicus ; and it would require only a few degrees of change for it to be merged in P. colchicus. Of course this is theoretical at present, as some necessary localities, from which we can naturally expect to receive other new forms supplying the remaining links still required are yet unexplored ; but if we are to suppose that all true Pheasants have but one origin or source, all the information which has thus far been gathered upon the subject apparently leads us to the belief that the form now designated as P. shawii will have to be accepted as the one from which all the rest have sprung. The species is a very handsome one, and peculiar from the almost uniform golden-yellow hue of the upper parts, and would he a most desirable acquisition, together with the other species already obtained, to parks and preserves. Both the examples of this species, brought by Mr. Shaw, are males and precisely similar. The female is unknown. PHASIANUS INSIGNIS, sp. nov. Mas. Colli plumis ad basin nigris, parte mediana saturate castanea, apicibus latis nitenti-viridibus; dorso toto et scapularibus Icetissime aureo-castaneis, fascia nigra una utrinque notatis, macula nitente viridi triangulari conspicue punctatis, rhach'tdibus albis: dorso imo uropyyiocpie saturate castaneis: |
