of all the descriptions previous to that of Dr Shaw in the Naturalist's Miscellany, which, with his figure, are also taken from an Indian drawing. The first living specimen seen in modern days was one which Le Vaillant noticed in a menagerie at the Cape of Good Hope, and of which he forwarded a description to M. Temminck, who describes it, and gives a sketch of the head and crest in his Histoire Naturelle des Pigeons et Gallinacés. M. Vieillot next gave a figure in his "Galerie," from specimens in the Paris Museum, under the title of P. speciferus ; and Mr Wilson has given two representations from specimens in the Edinburgh collection; while, lastly, a beautiful wood-cut appeared in the Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society." Not much, or rather nothing, is known of its habits; but there is nothing in its form that would indicate any great or important variations from those of the common bird.

It inhabits Java and Sumatra, and also the Continent of India, the two specimens in the Zoological Gardens having been received from the Burmese Territory; and it is probable that its distribution over the mainland, and the great Eastern Archipelago, will be found more extensive as research proceeds.

The most striking distinction in this species is the crest, which, instead of being composed of a naked shafted feather, with a round and eyed tip, as in the common bird, has these plumes of nearly an uniform breadth. Another prominent mark is

the yellow skin which surrounds the eyes. The following is a more detailed description of a beautiful specimen in the Edinburgh Museum, from which our illustration is taken.

This bird is nearly similar in size to the common peacock, but the whole plumage is of more subdued brilliancy. The principal distinction is in the form of the feathers of the crest, which, instead of a nearly bare shaft, and round moon at the tip, as in the common peacock, are lengthened, webbed from the base nearly of an equal breadth, and compared by Temminck to the tail of the long-tailed titmouse. The bare space upon the cheeks, and round the eyes, is of a fine gamboge-yellow. The head, neck, and fore part of the breast, are of a peculiar greenish tint, being brilliant, with golden reflections in some lights; in others appearing dull and subdued. The lower parts are of a dull deep greenish-brown, instead of the rich blue of the well known bird. The train is not so ample in proportion, and the eyes or moons are less numerous; the centre of each is rich blue, encircled with green, brown, and finally with a bronzed ring. The shoulders and wing-coverts are without the beautifully waved appearance of the common peacock, and are of a deep blue. The edge of the wing and quills are pale yellowish-red. A gradual change from the young state to the full plumage takes place, and it is the third moult before the complete train is displayed.

GENUS POLYPLECTRON, TEMM.

THIS genus was established by Temminck, from the l'Eperonne of Buffon, the Peacock Pheasant of Edwards and Sonnerat, the Pavo bicalcaratus and Tibetanus of Gmelin's Linnæus. We think there is no doubt that both this species and that of our Plate VI. was known to Gmelin; while the representations of Buffon and Sonuerat might have been taken from either. Prior ornithologists retained these birds with the peacocks, and that place is assigned to it in the last edition of Cuvier's Regne Animal. Since the institution of the genus, however, the P. Tibetanus has been examined, and two additional birds have been discovered, which agree with the characters assigned to the type, and all differ from the peacocks in the modifications from which Temminck has proposed to form his distinctions.

They inhabit the Indian Islands or China, and seem almost equally hardy with the peacock, living and thriving well in confinement; and, if they could be procured in sufficient numbers to ensure a stock, would form a most lovely addition to the ornamental poultry-yard. The chief distinction is in the form of the tail; it is rounded and very ample; the feathers stiff, and forming a plane surface. It is

never erected, like that of the two preceding genera, but is capable of a very wide expansion. It has also what its describers term the upper range of feathers. These cover the first half of the tail; and if the lower range or true tail were removed, the upper would appear to an unaccustomed observer to be perfect, and the only feathers belonging to this organ. Another singularity is in the tarsi being generally furnished with two spurs upon each, sometimes three, and, in a few instances, three on one leg, and two only on that opposite. The cheeks are covered with feathers, and the whole plumage is perfectly different in structure from that of the true peacocks. The fourth species (Plate VII.) varies in the form of the tail, which becomes much more lengthened, the shape of the feathers resembling somewhat those of the next genus to be described. We shall first notice that which seems to have been the species first known, or brought to Europe; it is the

ARGUS POLYPLECTRON.

Polyplectron bicalcaratum-TEMMINCK.

Pavo bicalcaratus, Linnæus, Gmelin.-Polyplectron bicalcaratum, Eperonnier argus, Temminck.-Le Paon de Malacca, Sonnerat.

It is evident from the characters given by Gmelin, that two species of this genus were known, the species

we are about to describe, and the P. chinquis of Temminck, for which the old name of Tibetanus should be retained. The length of the Argus polyplectron is about 18 or 19 inches. The feathers of the forehead are lengthened to a crest, are large, of a brownish-black, and marked with white at the base. All the rest of the head and neck is covered with short feathers, of a dull black. The throat is whitish; and the cheeks and space surrounding the eyes is freer from feathers than those parts in the remaining species. The back, scapularies, and wing-coverts, are of a yellowish-brown, thickly sprinkled with black spots, and having at the tip of each feather an eyed spot of a rich bluish-green. The breast, belly, vent, and thighs, are umber-brown, having the shafts white. The quills are dull brown. The tail, composed of two ranges of feathers, and rounded, is of the same colour with the back, thickly mottled with black, and has the tip of each feather rufous, blotched with deep black. Near the end of each feather are the two beautiful eye-like spots, of a brilliant green, placed close together, and surrounded with a circle of black.

This bird, which is far from being common, is a native of Molacca; most probably also China and the Indian Islands. It may be easily distinguished from the P. Tibetanus, its nearest ally, by the less size, the comparative bareness of the cheeks, its larger crest, and the different form of the feathers compos