During the mid-nineteenth century with the easing of restrictions in travel into the remoter parts of China, many new species of birds were found, but Gould believed that no one had been prepared for the discovery of such a magnificent pheasant as the De l'Huys Monal. It was previously thought that the Himalayan Monal, discovered in 1790, could not be excelled in its brilliant metallic colouring. The De l'Huys Monal was about a third larger, had even richer colours and a beautiful long flowing crest.
As no live examples had reached Europe in 1873, the illustration was drawn from skins brought from China by the French missionary, Père Armand David, and lent to Gould by the American zoologist, D.G. Elliot, who was preparing a magnificent book of pheasants.
The pheasant was named after the French zoologist, E. Drouyn de L'Huys (1805-1881).
The two sexes are depicted about two-thirds lifesize.
D.G. Elliot, Monograph of the Phasianidae, 1872, I, pl.20

DISTRIBUTION: Central China in southern Kansu, eastern Tsinghai, northwestern and northern Szechwan