[61]

Polyplectron

Mar 19. B. Museum

The eye in the Java Peacock is more deeply notched from above.

Begin with gradation of eyes in Pol.

Tail coverts are elongated, for in P. Nap they are 4 in 6⁄8 long whilst tail is 8 in long. Whilst in P. enicospilum they are as 8 to 12 & the whole tail elongated like a pheasant. With respect to disappearance of eyes in tail of Peacock there is gradation in Pol, for P. Nap. the central tail-feathers have double eyes, whilst the outer tail feather has a mere shade on the inner side representing the eye; & this shade becomes more & more coloured in the feathers approaching the centre. In P. malac. there is no trace of the inner eye, the 2 central feathers alone having the double eye.

In P. enico. all the tail-feathers have double eyes.

61v]

[Table]

[62]

in P. chinquis the metallic eyes are surrounded by black border which shades into brown & this surrounded by cream colour. These are the most complex eyes. All the tail-feathers in this sp. have double eyes. In P. Nap. the green feathers on back & shoulders correspond with the small eye-feathers in the other species.

No rudiment of a 2nd spur in male peacock.

In C. malacc. we have in same bird confluent eyes in tail-covert & greatest degree of abortion in eyes in real tail; & much elongated tail-covert, though not so greatly elongated as in P. enicospilum & Hardwickii.