To the Editor of the "Norra-Cama Datry News."
Sir,—Whatever learned Zadoo may say to the contrary, Mr. Sowerby's mention of the crow-pheasant is no "teething infant's sort of stuff'"—to quote from Zadoc's letter in your columns of the 25th ultimo.
These birds have repeatedly been fuct with in this province (Fukien), and it is very likely that their habitats include the neighbouring provinces of Kiangsi and Chekiang. ar Personally T have seen them a number of times whilst up-country, and, as far as memory serves me, they are hi-coloured (reddish-brown and black) whilst the upper mandible bears a pronounced "'hook.'' In reality the bird is neither a crow, nor a pheasant, but a combination of the two inasmuch as it may be likened to a crow by the size of its skull and by its black head, back, wing coverts (I believe the primaries are brown—'—); and vectrices. The resemblance te a pheasant is in the general texture of its plumage. The tectrices are long, similar to the common magy ie. So it will be seen that the crow-pheasant has remarkable characteristics.
Moreover, I wonder if Zadoc realizes that Mr. Sowerby procured an excellent specimen whilst with na in May last?
Tu the circumstances. should not Mr. Sowerby know what he is writing about?
Enclosing inv card, I am, ete., Quarerror. Foochow Aug. 2, 1929.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.