EUPLOCAMUS LINEATUS, Pigors.

Lineated Pheasant.

Lophophorus Cuvieri, Temm. Pl. Col., v. pl. 1 (1820, hybrid).

Lineated Pheasant, Lath. Gen. Hist. B., viii. p. 201.

Phasianus lineatus, Vigors, P. Z.S., 1831, p. 24 (ex Lath. MS.).—Jerdon, B. Ind., iii. p. 531.—Beavan, Ibis, 1868,
p. 381.

Genneus lineatus, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1228.

Phasianus Reynaudi, Lesson, in Bélanger, Voy. Ind. Orient. Zool., p. 276, pls. 8, 9.

Phasianus fasciatus, M‘Clell. Calcutta Journ, N. H., 1. p. 146, pl. 3.

Lophophorus leucomelas, Gray, List of Genera, 1840, p. 60.

Alectrophasis leuwcomelanos, Gray, List of Genera, 1841, p. 78.

Gallophasis fasciatus, Gray, Gen. B., il. p. 498.

Euplocamus lineatus, Gray, List of Genera, p. 78.—Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B., p. 244.—Sclater, P. Z.5., 1863,
p. 120.—Id. text to Wolf’s Zool. Sketches, 2nd ser. pl. 38.—Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 153.—Gray, List of
Galline, p. 34.—Gray, Hand-l. B., ii. p. 260.—Elliot, Monogr. Phasian., il. pl. xxxiui.

Grammatoptilus lineatus, Reichenb. Syst. Av., p. 30.

 

Ir there is one species more than another which unites the two sections of the genus Euplocamus (that is

_ to say the Kaleeges) with the Silver Pheasant, it is the present bird. The largely developed facial wattle,
the finely pencilled plumage extending over the whole upper surface, and the form of the tail incline it
to the Silver Pheasant (G@allophasis nycthemerus) ; but then the latter species and its immediate allies are
distinguished by their bright red legs, while in the present bird they are bluish grey. This may seem
to many a character of slight importance; but to my mind it is not so, for I find the colour of the legs
in these Pheasants of great differential value. Those who know our Silver Pheasant, the beautiful
Euplocamus Swinhoei, or its elegant congener L. prelatus, and the still more curious Lodiophasis Bulweri,
will remember that all these birds have delicate legs of a bright red colour, whereas the present bird and
all the Kaleeges have them dark-coloured. I lay the greater stress on this point because Mr. Elliot,
in his noble monograph of the family, has given bright red legs to H. albocristatus; but this must be
an oversight, for I find that Dr. Jerdon gives them as “dark horny,” which accords with my own
experience. Again, in the description of the present species, he gives the legs as red, whereas they
are figured brown in the plate; and that the latter is correct will be found on a reference to Wolf’s
plate in the ‘ Zoological Sketches,’ taken from the living bird.

As is the case with most of the members of the genus Luplocamus, of which allied species interbreed on
the confines of their respective ranges, the Lineated Pheasant is often found crossed with H. Horsfieldi ;
and were hybrids to be noticed, it would stand as Euplocamus Cuviert, as our first notice of the species
was in 1820, when Temminck figured a hybrid specimen. Concerning this I may with advantage quote
Mr. Blyth’s remarks :—

«The Lophophorus Cuvier? represents one of the hybrid races referred to, between Gadlophasis lineatus and
G. Horsfieldi. These completely pass one into the other in the province of Arakan, whence some living
specimens have been received by the Zoological Society. In like manner @. albocristatus and G. melanonotus
interbreed in the intermediate province of Nipal, G@. melanonotus being the species inhabiting Sikkim and
Butan, where most assuredly G. Zineatus is unknown, the latter inhabiting southward of the range of
G. Horsfieldi, i. e. in Pegu and the Tenasserim provinces, where I have personally observed it in the
forests.”

Captain Beavan writes as follows :—‘ Dr. Jerdon mentions the singular drumming noise made by the
male, With respect to Euplocamus lneatus, which is, in my opinion, a true Kalleege, I may mention that
the Burmese take advantage of this habit of the birds, and by imitating it with a rough kind of machine
catch numbers of the latter species. It is like the crow of a cock, a kind of challenge uttered by one male
to excite another to a battle—‘ in defiance of his fellows.’ ”

Mr. Elliot further observes :—‘‘ Mr. Blyth informs me that the natives snare a cock bird of this species,

uy and secure him near the jungles, when his cries serve to bring the males who may be within hearing into the

 

open, looking for their antagonist, whom they immediately attack, thus giving the concealed gunner an
} opportunity to shoot them ; and in this way many birds are obtained. Of course it is only the cocks which

are procured, the hens never paying any attention to the crowing, but remaining quietly in the forest.”