We present new near-infrared (rest-frame UV-to-optical) spectra of the high
redshift, gravitationally lensed quasar B 1422+231 (z=3.62). Diagnostic
emission lines of FeII, [OIII]5007, and Hb, commonly used to determine the
excitation, ionization, and chemical abundances of radio-quiet and radio-loud
quasars, were detected. Our new data show that the ratio FeII(UV)/Hb=18.1+-4.6
and FeII(optical)/Hb=2.3+-0.6 are higher than those reported by Kawara et al.
(1996) by factors of 1.6 and 3.3, respectively, although the ration
[OIII]5007/Hb=0.19+-0.02 is nearly the same between the two measurements. The
discrepancy of the line flux ratios between the measurements is likely due to
improved data and fitting procedures rather that to intrinsic variability.
While approximately half of the high-z quasars observed to date have much more
extreme FeII(optical)/Hb ratios, the line ratio measured for B 422+231 are
consistent with the observed range of FeII(optical) ratios of low-z quasars.Comment: 5 pages, 1 table, 4 figures. To appear in The Astronomical Journa