OCR Text |
Show 504 ON THE BIRDS OF HAINAN. [May 8, is most nearly allied to G. nycthemerus, but, as may be seen from the accompanying drawing (Plate XXXIV.), differs conspicuously in many important particulars. Crown black with a slight blue gloss; nuchal crest rather long (2-5 inches) and similarly coloured, the longer feathers being decomposed. Adult male. Nape and upper mantle pure white; each feather of the lower mantle, back, rump, and shorter upper tail-coverts with one black submarginal band on each web, forming an arrowhead black marking, which gradually increases in width towards the tail, most of the feathers being also narrowly fringed with black. Wing-coverts similar, but with the black markings much coarser. Longer upper tail-coverts and secondaries very boldly marked with successive black arrow-heads. Primary-quills black, with wide oblique white markings. Middle tail-feathers pure white; second and third pairs white, with wide (about 0-5 inch) oblique black bands on the outer web; the latter pair with some irregular black marking on the inner web also; remaining pairs white, with wide oblique black bands on both webs forming an irregular arrow-head pattern. Underparts black, some of the feathers of the sides with narrow white middles. Iris brownish yellow; naked wattle and skin on sides of face scarlet; bill greenish white; legs coral-red. Total length 35 inches ; wing 9-4 ; tail 20 ; tarsus 3-15. Adult female. Most nearly resembles the female of G. andersoni, but is much darker. The feathers of the neck and mantle mostly black with wide white shaft-streaks; the underparts, including the under tail-coverts, similar, but with wider white middles. Outer tail-feathers uniform dark chestnut, with indistinct vermiculations of black. Iris light brown ; upper mandible greenish brown, lower dull green; naked skin on face red; legs and feet bright scarlet. Total length 21-5 inches ; wing 8-1; tail 8-8 ; tarsus 2-9. Mr. Whitehead secured three adult males and one female of this splendid Silver Pheasant. Hab. Five-Finger Mountains, interior of Hainan. 239. GALLUS GALLUS. Gallus ferrugineus (Gmel.) ; Swinhoe, Ibis, 1870, p. 357; Styan, Ibis, 1893, p. 435 ; Hartl. Abh. nat. Ver. Bremen, xiv. p. 371 (1898;. Gallus gallus (Linn.); Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 344 (1893). Gallus bankiva, Temm.; Hartl. Abh. nat. Ver. Bremen, xii. p. 324. Throughout Hainan (Swinhoe). EXPLANATION OP THE PLATES. PLATE XXXIII. Nycticorax magnifica, p. 493. PLATE XXXIV. Germans whiteheadi, d 2 > P- 503. |