PHEASANTS. 



221 



FIG. 105. I'hasianus reevcsii, Beeves' pheasant. 



in other parts of northern China. The 

 cheer or Wallich's pheasant, P. (catreus) 

 i) is a native of the western Him- 

 malehs to the borders of Nepal. It is a 

 large bird, weighing from two pounds ten 

 ounces to three pounds seven ounces. It 

 has a lengthened dark-brown crest, upper 

 parts yellowish-brown bound with black, a 

 rufous rump, ashy breast, and rufous flanks 

 barred with black. The tail is long and 

 broad. The cheer is a local species, dwell- 

 ing at from four thousand to eight thousand 

 feet of elevation, and haunting grassy hills 

 covered with oak and pine. During the 

 day the birds remain hidden, coming out to 

 feed at morning and evening. They run 

 fast and lie close, and are difficult to flush. 

 Both sexes crow, and may be heard, when 

 engaged in this amusement, for a great dis- 

 tance. This pheasant feeds on roots, grubs, 

 seeds, berries, etc., and roosts on the ground, 

 all the members of a flock, numbering from 

 six to a dozen individuals, huddled close 

 together. It nests from April to Juno, the 



