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which are also very big and fat, surpassing those which are in our country in bigness and numbers in a
company.”

Several fine skins of both sexes were sent to th
have been transmitted to J. R. Reeves,
of Shanghai, where the species appears to be very common.

specific term for this bird, it was M. Temminck who pointed

is country by the late Captain Ince, R.N., of H.M.S.

Pilot”; and others Esq., of Clapham; all these specimens were

procured in the neighbourhood
Although Gmelin probably first proposed the
out the differences which occur between it and the

Chinese bird is the one to which the term ¢orquatus should be a
uite distinct from the P. Colchicus. He remarks, that ‘‘it is of much smaller size
EK)

of the tail never exceeding two feet five inches, which is

Common Pheasant, and stated that, in his opinion, the
pplied, his observations having satisfactorily

proved to him that it is q
its length from the tip of the beak to the extremity
al length of the Common Pheasant; the expanse of the wings is also less, and

six inches less than the tot
He further states, that the circumstance

nuch shorter in proportion to the size of the body.”
ation with the common species and producing fertile offspring

In this opinion I entirely concur, and, like

the tail is 1
of its breeding m a state of semi-domestic
oof of the two birds not being specifically distinct.
state of nature such a union would never take place.

part among the game-birds of the British Islands,

If it could be kept quite pure, it would doubtless

is no pr
M. Temminck, also believe that in a
As this bird is likely hereafter to play no inconspicuous
a word or two on this point may not be out of place here.
prove a most interesting addition to our woods, since its plumage 1s variegated and beautiful, and its flesh
very delicate and high-flavoured ; the aptitude, however, of the males to wander in search of fresh scenes
and other females renders this a matter of great difficulty. It is somewhat delicate in its constitution
,
and consequently not so well adapted for our variable climate. When raised in cover, its flight is bold
° e ° e e E
straight and arrow-like, mounting through the branches with great celerity, and often flying to a con-
siderable distance before it again enters the cover.
The eggs are of a pale olivaceous stone-colour, and considerably smaller than those of the Common
Pheasant, being one inch and eleven-sixteenths long by one inch and three-sixteenths broad.
I cannot conclude without recording my obligations to the Earl of Craven for a very fine series of Pheasants
Pr Fi * ~ = ? uy Q © 2
from his Lordship’s preserves at Coombe Abbey, near Coventry, an examination and comparison of which
with the true P. Colchicus and P. torquatus have greatly assisted in the elucidation of the subject
The male has the forehead deep green ; crow i .
: | green ; crown of the head fawn-colour, glossed with green; over each
Mye ¢ » r . Q Peak i 1 1
eye a conspicuous streak of buffy white ; the naked papillated skin of the orbits and sides of the face deep
scarlet or blood-red, interspersed beneath the eye with a series of very minute black feathers ; horn like tufts
. , :
on each side of the head, throat and neck rich d ining 1 j i
ad, t eep shining green with violet reflex ; P
the neck a conspicuous collar of shining white feathers ee befor d behind ca ee = a
WE cn ra g ees e and behind, and broadly dilated on
he sides; the feathers of the back of the neck black, with a narrow mark of white down the centre of
the basal portion, and a large lengthened mar ithi |
! ‘ 1ed mark of ochr i
a. ; a g g i ae f ochreous yellow within the edge of each web near the tip;
he feathers of the back and scapularies black at the base, with a streak of white in th iddle, th
surrounded with a distinct narrow band of black, to whicl te ee
. d with a dis arrow band of black, to which succeeds ‘ing
Bee ia mreciraes ack, to which succeeds an outer fringe of chestnut; feathers ot
ac , wit rous zigzag and crescenti rk ite: :
ae nee g B ie ce marks of buffy white; lower part of the back, rump
é ail-coverts light green of various shac assing 1 is :

5 c ae s S ] ]
ee eae g ades, passing into bluish grey on the sides, below which 1s
é k of rufous; breast-feathers indented at the tip, of a rich reddish cl i i
er a toate s , ‘ddish chestnut with purple reflexions,
and each bordered with black ; flanks fine buff, with a large angular spot of beautiful violet at the t1

g gule autitul violet at the tip; centre
of the abdomen black, with violet reflexions ; under tail-coverts reddish cl i i .

Elsah ; : ‘ : s reddish chestnut ; wing-coverts silvery grey ;
wines brown; the primaries h light s i ; Gene
@ . primaries with light shafts, and crossed with narrow bars of light buff; tl lari
pee v bar ight buff; the secondaries
similar, but the markines not so regular as 1 i i 5 ; : be

8} ular as in the primaries ; ti “s oliv : : :
et eh Bue nexcack = ee primaries ; tail-feathers olive, fringed with different shades

s 1 a S ¢ gular intervals Vv road conspi 5 = ; i
ee iSieeciss tect - ee i broad conspicuous black bands, passing into reddish

side asa 1e six central feathers ; bill 1 iri
: yellowis -c rides Ne
ee 5 ) vish horn-colour ; irides yellow ; feet
The female has the whole of the upper surface brownish black, with a marein of /

throat whitish, and the central portion of the under surface f; | eee moe
; t Surlace fawn- rs i i :
barred with dark brown, between which are other i awn-colour ; flanks mottled with brown ; tail buff,

’ vhich are other mterrupt P
on the two central feathers than on the othe 1 pted bars of the same hue; these marks are broader

hers, and moreover do é i i

not reach the edge on either sid
« eo e oO f e 1 €.
The Plate represents the bird nearly the size of life. ;