The tail is ample, and above of a brownish-chestnut. The female is very similar to those of Lophophorus and Tragopan, of a dull umber-brown, with dark waves and crosses. This bird inhabits the alpine regions of India, and is yet but imperfectly known.

To this same genus belong one or two beautiful birds even still less known than that now represented. Among them is the Lophophorus Cuvierii of Temminck. The plumage of this is black, barred delicately with grey; the rump with large truncated feathers, broadly edged with white. Temminck is of opinion, that his specimen, unique at the time, was scarcely adult, and that the plumage, with the exception of the rump, was glossy bluish-black. bird which we lately received from India agrees with this, and is entirely of a rich bluish-black, except the rump.

A

Another beautiful species, inhabiting Alpine India, has been figured by Mr Gould under the name of Phasianus albocristatus. In this the crest is composed of long hackly white feathers. The plumes upon the lower parts are very lanceolate in their form, and are conspicuously seen on the black shoulders and mantle. The rump-feathers are of the same broad form, with broad white margins. The next form we have to notice is

VOL. III.

GENUS LOPHOPHORUS,-TEMMINCK.

TEMMINCK instituted this genus in the Histoire Naturelle des Pigeons et Gallinacés, from what yet remains nearly a solitary species, the Impeyan Pheasant of Latham. At the time of its formation, he placed several other birds with it; but he is now of opinion himself, that they will more properly range with the preceding genus Euplocomus. The only bird which has any claim to be reserved is what was described in " Ornithological Illustrations" as Lophophorus Nigelli; but being a female, we cannot so clearly decide. This genus differs from Euplocomus in the form of the tail, which is flat and rounded ; the nearest approach to that being in the Ph. erythropthalmus of Raffles, and in the old Loph. Cuvierii of Temminck. The form of the bill is also much more hooked or curved downwards, as if intended to dig or root up bulbous plants, in the same way with some tribes of the partridges. The head is also splendidly and peculiarly crested, and the plumage extremely brilliant.

Our next Plates will represent the male and female of this splendid bird; and we have to acknowledge our obligation to Mr Gould for permission to