146 LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS.

deep scarlet, the feathers assume a tint of pale greenish
azure. The beak is yellow blended with brown, and
the legs are red. From the tail two white feathers
branch with a graceful curve, terminating in a black
circular spot like the tail-feathers of the peacock. The
white streaks upon the body are on a ground of bluish
purple, similar in tint to the wings, but not so dark.
The bird is about the size of a common dunghill cock.
The hen is of a reddish brown, with nothing of splen-
dour in her plumage.

Several specimens of this beautiful bird have been
sent to England; but every one that I have seen is
without the two long tail-feathers, which circumstance
has led many members of the Zoological Society to
doubt their existence in the living bird. The fact
is, that in the island of Java, of which the fire-
pheasant is a native, those feathers are so highly
valued, that the Javanese invariably pluck them from
the bird whenever it is obtained, and sell them at
a high price; and in proportion as they are difficult
to procure perfect, they become valuable. This will at
once account for the specimens sent to Europe being
generally, if not always, without the tail-feathers.