TABB. LXIX. ET LXX.

species.
purpose of figuri
male having already been given in Major-General Hardwicke’s ‘‘ Indian Zoology.”

tawny ;
the upper surface cinereous, p

having white edges with a central line of black ;

the bill black ; the tarsi brown.
The upper plumage of the female is of a uniform tawny br

lines and dots of black ;
plumage ; the throat is dull white ; the under parts light tawny.

The respective Plates repr

 

 

 

PHASIANUS PUCRASIA.

Tus present bird, which was first made known to science by the researches of Major-General Hardwicke, is
no less interesting than the former species, as exhibiting the same tendency, by some of its characters, to
connect nearly allied genera. From its form and general appearance, its most obvious place appears to be
among the true Pheasants; but from these birds it differs remarkably by its singularly wedge-shaped tail, as
well as by its crested head, a character which forms a very distinctive mark of the group of Pheasants that
inhabit the mountainous districts of India. The crest, however, of the present species differs from that of the
preceding in its being composed of separate rigid feathers standing from the head independently of one
another; while that of P. Staceii consists of soft falling feathers of a lighter and more delicate texture. Both
sexes of this bird have been received from the Himalaya, where it appears to be by no means an uncommon
The female is figured in this work for the first time; and it was, indeed, more especially for the
ng this sex, that the species was selected for illustration in this work, a good figure of the

 

The head is ornamented with a pendent crest, of which the lower feathers are greenish black, the upper
the head, back, and front of the neck, are black with green reflections ; the sides of the neck white ;
assing off on the secondaries and quill-feathers into tawny, the former being
mottled with small dots; the sides of the chest and flanks are ornamented with long lanceolate feathers,
the breast and under surface are of a deep rich chestnut ;

 

 

 

 

own, elegantly barred and spotted with zigzag

the feathers of the crest are short, and of the same colour as the rest of the

esent the male and female two thirds of their natural size.