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LOBIOPHASIS BULWERIL, Sharpe.

Bulwer’s Pheasant.

Lobiophasis Bulweri, Sharpe, Ann, N. H. 1874, 4th series, vol. xiv. p. 373.

 

Numerous as have been the valuable acquisitions rendered to ornithology during the last few years by the
opening up of the great countries of China, Yunan, and the vast territories lying between our Indian frontier
and the Celestial Empire, there has not been one fraught with greater interest than the fine Pheasant figured
in the accompanying Plate.

This beautiful bird is a native of Borneo; and at first sight it might seem as if it might have been kept in
one or other of the numerous genera of gallinaceous birds. It might be considered closely allied to the
Euplocamus Swinhoei or the lovely Diardigallus prelatus; but on closer examination it will be found to differ
not only from these birds, but from every other form of Pheasant yet discovered ; and I quite agree with
Mr. Sharpe, who has had the honour of describing this magnificent species, that its generic separation
was necessary.

Its chief peculiarity lies in its naked face, its fleshy horns, and peculiar pendent wattles. Its tail also exhibits
characters which will at once separate it from all other known Phasianine forms, for the number of tail-feathers
and the curious denuded shafts of the outer ones render this, again, very different from that of any other
game-bird. That it is a graceful as well as a very curious species is evident from its slender form and
thinly built legs, which, being bright red in colour, contrast strongly with its blue face and ornamental
wattles.

At present only a single example of this rare bird has been discovered ; and it seems to me strange that
such a large and remarkable species should not have been sent home before, particularly as for the last
fifty years Borneo has been visited by so many collectors. Mr. Wallace never seems to have heard of the
existence of such a Pheasant in Borneo; but it is just possible that the bird mentioned to the Marquis Doria as
being found in Borneo (cf. Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 306) was, after all, this new Pheasant.

The following is Mr. Sharpe’s original description :—‘ Above brown, all the feathers terminally margined
with metallic purple, of a harsh texture ; the neck-hackles similarly coloured; but here, owing to the
individual plumes being divided, the general appearance of the metallic colouring is more spotted than on the
back and upper tail-coverts, where the terminal metallic margins produce a somewhat barred appearance ;
wing-coverts uniform with the back, and having the same metallic spots ; quills light brown, the outer primary
with a pale whity-brown margin; the secondaries darker, and the innermost terminally margined with the
same metallic colour as the back ; lower back and rump-feathers uniform with rest of back, but the greater
upper tail-coverts white, like the whole of the tail; head bare, with a large horn or wattle on each side of
the occiput, and with a long pendent wattle on each side of the throat; round the hind neck a coliar of
dull maroon, all the feathers obscurely margined with metallic purple; chest also dull maroon, similarly
obscured by purplish margins, which become broader and more distinct on the breast, which is black like the
rest of the under surface, the metallic margins disappearing on the flanks and abdomen; under wing-
coverts also dull brown, like the inner margin of the wing.

“Total length 28 inches, wing 11-5, tail 16°5, tarsus 3°4, pendent lobes 1°25.

‘«« Hab. Mountains of Lanos, Northern Borneo.

«The unique specimen from which the above description has been taken has been presented to the
Trustees of the British Museum by His Excellency H. E. Bulwer, C.M.G., Governor of Labuan. The
wattles and ornaments on the face are stated to have been bright ultramarine in life.”

To give an idea of the size of this fine creature I wust inform my readers that the figure in the Plate is
not more than two thirds the size of life. It has been drawn from the unique type in the British Museum,
to the authorities of which I am indebted for the temporary loan of the specimen, which has enabled me to
prepare the accompanying Plate from the talented pencil of Mr. Wolf.

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