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Show 1870.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON NEW PHEASANTS. 405 tectricibus alarum albis, intimis castaneo marginatis, exterioribus nigro et brunneo variegatis; remigibus pallide brunneis, ful-vescenti- albo fasciatis: cauda rufo-brunnea nigro anguste et regulariter fasciata ; rectricibus exterioribus, preecipue pogonio interno, nigro variegatis: pectore medio splendide aureo-castaneo, nitente viridi late terminatis : hypochondriis splendide aureis, apicibus conspicue nitenti-viridibus: abdomine imo tibiisque nigris: subcaudalibus castaneis paullo viridi niten-tibus. Fcem. Fulvo-brunnea, pallide rosaceo passim induta: dorsi plumis einerascenti-brunneo marginatis, ante apicem fascia fulva, parte mediana rufo et nigro fasciata : remigibus pallide brunneis nigro transfasciatis: cauda rosaceo-brunnea, nigro trans-fasciata : subtus rosaceo-fulva; hypochondriis fasciis latis nigris conspicue notatis. Male. Feathers of the neck black at base, deep chestnut in the centre, and broadly tipped with brilliant green : back and scapulars golden chestnut, with a triangular black bar starting from the shaft about a third of its length from the tip ; shaft white; a triangular spot at the tip brilliant green ; back and rump deep rich chestnut-red ; wing-coverts white, margined at the lower half with fulvous. Tail reddish brown, barred equally and at regular intervals with black for about half the width of the web, outer half barred with chestnut; lateral feathers reddish brown on the outer webs, greyish brown on the inner, barred regularly with black. Underside of tail-feathers chestnut, barred broadly and distinctly with black. Upper part of breast brilliant golden chestnut, broadly tipped with shining green; flanks bright golden, with the ends of the feathers covered with a large triangular spot of brilliant shining green ; centre of abdomen and thighs black ; under tail-coverts chestnut, tips washed with shining green; feet and tarsus blackish brown. Length from end of neck to rump 10 inches; wing 11 inches; tail 20 inches. Female. General colour buff, tinged with a rosy hue ; feathers of the back edged with ashy brown, before a band of yellowish, which is repeated two or three times, interrupting the black which runs along the shaft. Primaries pale brown barred with brownish black; tail rosy brown, barred irregularly with black ; breast dark buff; flanks rosy buff, conspicuously spotted with black. Hab. Yarkand. This fine bird, which may be considered a second species of the group containing P. mongolicus, is even more brilliant in plumage than its ally, and will doubtless be considered hereafter the most beautiful of all the members of the restricted genus Phasianus. The feathers of the breast and flanks shine with the most brilliant metallic colours, and the living bird must be a splendid object. Unfortunately the two skins brought by Mr. Shaw are without the heads, and I am unable to give a description of that important part of the body; but as that portion varies but slightly in the true Pheasants, it would not be at all hazardous to suppose that the P. |
