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Show 352 AVES. lated spots, which, when spread, give to _the bird a most extra. ordinary aspect. It inhabits the mountams of Sumatra, and of some other countries of the south east of Asia. It forms the genus ARGus, Tern., Gallin. . . . . : There is reason to believe that a bJrd ex1sts m the mtertorof China, the feathers of whose tail are still more elongated, at· taining a length of four feet, whitish, changing to red on the edges, with numerous tranverse black or maronne lines. It is thought to be figured on some of the Chinese paper hangings. M. Temminck calls it Phasianus superbus; Gall. II, p. 336. The HouPPIFEREs, Tern., With the naked cheeks common to this genus, have the vertical tail and arched coverts peculiar to the Cock, and feathers on their head which they can erect, forming an aigrette similar to that of the Peacock. The inferior edge of the naked skin on the cheeks, which is salient, supplies the place of wattles. The tarsi are armed with strong spurs. Only one species is known; it is from the straits of Sunda, is the size of a Cock, of a brilliant black, with a golden red rump; the two superior tail-coverts yellowish or whitish, the flanks spotted with white or fawn-colour; Phas. ignitus, Sh. Nat. Misc., 321; Vieill., Galer., pl. ccvii. The female is brown, finely striped with black above, and dashed with white beneath. She has also a crest. TRAGOPAN, Cuv. The head of the male most fantastically ornamented; it is almost naked, and behind each eye is a small slender horn; a wattle under the throat susceptible of inflation; the tarsi of both sexes armed with short spurs. Only one species is known, a native of the north of India, th~ Nepaul or Faisan cornu, Buff.; Penelope satyra, Gm.; Meleagru aatyrua, Lath. Edw. 116; Vieill., Galer. 206. As large as a Cock; of a brilliant red, sprinkled with small white tears. The female and the young are of different shades of brown.(!) We should separate from the Pheasants the CRYPTONYx, Tem.(2) In which the nakedness of the head is confined to the circum· (1) The Tragopan of Pliny, lib. x, c. 49, was probably imagined from this bird· (2) Vieillot has changed this name into LrPONYX. . h · There 1• s a spect• es of Cryptonyx at Malacca, menti• oned by Dussumt•e T' WhlC IS black, crestless, and without the papillated space about the eye. G ALLIN AC E.tE. 353 ference of the eye; the tail is moderate and plane, and the tarsi without spurs; the principal character, however, consists in the absence of the thumb nail. There is only one species well known, the male of which has a long tuft of slender red feathers, and long upright filaments, without barbs on each eye-br·ow. It is the Rouloul de Malacca, Sonner. Voy. II, pl. 100; Cript. coronatus, Tern., Col. 350 and 351; Columba criatata, Gm. and Lath.; Pltasianus cristatua, Sparm., Mus. Carls. III, 64. Green; somewhat larger than a Quail. The female, which merely has a vestige of a tuft, is the Tetrao viridia, Lath., Syn. II, pl. 67.(1) TETRAo, Lin. This also is a great genus, characterized by a naked and most gene- · rally red band, which occupies the place of the eye-brow. It is di· vided into subgenera as follows. TETRAo, Lath. The feet of Grous are covered with feathers, and are without spurs. Those to which this name is more particularly applied have a round or forked tail and naked toes. There are two large species of them in France. T. urogallua, L.; Grand Coq de Bruyerea; Enl., 73 and 74. (The Great Heath-Cock.) The largest of all the Gallinacere, and superior in size to the Turkey. Its plumage is slate~ coloured, transversely and finely striped with black; the female is fawn-coloured, the cross lines brown or blackish. Found in the heart of mountain forests, builds among the heath·grass, or in newly cleared grounds, and feeds on bt•rries and buds. Its trachea makes two curves before it dips into the lungs. The flesh is delicious. T. tetrix, L.; Coq de Bouleau; Enl. 172 and 173; Frisch, 109; Naum. 1st Ed., 18, f. 37 and 38. (The Black Cock.) The male is more or less black, with some white on the coverts of the wings and under the tail, the two forks of which diverge laterally. The female is fawn·coloured, tt·ansversely striped with blackish and whitish. Their size is that of the Cock, and they are found in mountain forests. (1) The Columba cristata, D., Gm., Lath., Syn. II, pl. lviii, appears closely ~ed to it1 but the figure represents it as having a large nail to the thumb. Thia '-perhaps an error, as in the Galer. Vieill, tom. II, pl. ccx. VoL. I.-2 U |
