with steel-blue reflections. The feathers on the middle of the back are of a brilliant orange, or what would be called flame-colour, and in different lights assume various degrees of intensity of lustre. The rump and tail-coverts are broad and truncated, and are of a brilliant bluish-green, with a bar at the tip of a paler tint, and in those at the sides of the same colour with the orange of the centre of the back. The tail is slightly folded, like that of a hen, or, when seen flat, appears forked. The centre-feathers are white; those on the out-side black, with green reflections. The legs and feet are bright vermilion.

The female, Plate XX., only about 20 inches in length, has the plumage almost entirely of a rich cinnamon-brown. On the upper parts the feathers are slightly mottled with black. The throat is white; and the lower parts, of a paler tint than those above, have the feathers bordered with nearly pure white. The head wants the erect crest of the male; but the feathers on the hind-head are lengthened. The tail appears slightly forked.

The Macartney Cock inhabits Sumatra ; but nothing has yet been learnt regarding its habits.

PUCRAS PHEASANT.

Euplocomus pucrasia.

PLATE XXI.

Phasianus pucrasia, Pucras Pheasant, Gould's Century, and Gray's Illustrations of Indian Zoology.

THIS is one of the most beautiful of the Euplocomi, but differs slightly from the typical examples in the form of the tail, which is more pheasant-like. There seems to be considerable variations in the shades of the plumage of this bird. The most frequent tints are upon the head, throat, and neck, of a beautiful green, with blue and violet reflections. Upon the sides of the neck there is a conspicuous patch of pure white. The head is crested with long, rather broad feathers, the first and shortest arising from the crown, of a reddish-yellow; the others hanging over the back of the neck, of the same rich colour with the head and neck. The upper parts are of a rich brown; the feathers of a lanceolate form, and dark centres. The under parts are of a rich chestnut, and bordering this are lanceolate plumes, of a still greater length, nearly white; the centres dark, tinged with yellow, and appearing conspicuous when lying over the darker plumage of the upper parts.

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