222 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



eggs are small, of a pale stone color, with brownish specks towards the ends. A small 

 group of green-breasted pheasants may be here noticed, consisting of three species ; 

 P. versicolor from Japan, P. elegans from Sze-chuen, China, and P. decollatus from Sze- 

 ehuen and Moupin. They are all species of beautiful plumage, the green hues with 

 metallic reflections covering the entire under-parts of P. versicolor, confined to a broad 

 band from throat to vent in the second named, the flanks being a rich chestnut ; while 

 the third, P. decollatus, has the green color restricted to the region of the abdomen, 

 with the flanks golden yellow. In habits, so far as known, they resemble other mem- 

 bers of this genus. The white-winged pheasants, of which the superb P. itisignis and 

 its hardly less beautiful relative, P. mongolicns, may be considered as typical, form 

 another small group, distinguished by the presence of a more or less broad white ring 

 around the lower part of the neck, beneath the rich metallic hues of the head and neck. 

 They are natives of various parts of Asia, China, and the island of Formosa. They are 

 met with in flocks of considerable size in the localities they frequent, and are one of the 

 chief attractions for the table to the people inhabiting the countries in which they dwell. 



The remaining species of the genus P has i anus are those without rings around the 

 neck, the metallic hues of blue or green coming to the breast. This group embraces 

 the well-known P. colchicus, or common English pheasant so-called, and the superb 

 P. shawi from eastern Turkestan. The English pheasant was naturalized in Great 

 Britain before the Norman Conquest, the earliest record being in the year 1059, 

 when it was mentioned in a bill of fare now preserved in the British Museum. It was 

 probably introduced by the Roman conquerors, who also brought the fallow-deer to 

 Britain. Like all of this genus, these pheasants are lovers of thickets and forests, 

 shy, and, when hard pressed, taking refuge in trees. They have a kind of one-syllable 

 crow, by which, in the spring, the male summons the female into his presence. They 

 are omnivorous, and the male does not trouble himself with nest-building or the care 

 of the young. 



The sub-family Meleagrinre comprises the turkeys. Some writers place these with 

 tl;e Guinea fowls in a separate family, MELEAGpac.E, but it seems that they should more 

 properly be included as a sub-family of the Phasianidre, to the species of which they 

 are allied by various characteristics. But three species are known, the North 

 American bird, M. yallopava, the Mexican JI. mexicana, and the Central American M. 

 ocellata. The habits of the common species are so well known that it is unnecessary 

 to devote any space to them here. The Central American species is a bird of wonder- 

 ful plumage, excelling the others brilliantly metallic as theirs may be --by the 

 extraordinary variety and splendid hue of its scintillating coloring. The bare head 

 and neck is deep blue, covered with bright red warts ; the wattle between the eyes is 

 also deep blue ending in yellow ; the upper part of the back feathers metallic green, 

 succeeded by a line of black, and terminating with yellow; back and rump feathers 

 blue, followed by black and tipped with red ; greater wing-coverts deep red ; flanks 

 and lower parts black tipped with brilliant red ; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers light 

 brown mottled with black, followed by a broad spot of deep blue margined on both 

 sides with black, then a line of yellow and tipped Avith deep red; bill, legs, and feet 

 red. All these bright colors are metallic, and as brilliant as those of the humming-bird. 

 This species goes in small flocks, is never found in the dense forests, preferring dis- 

 tricts where forests and open country prevail. The birds roost in trees, and the male 

 struts in the same manner as the common species, and in other of its habits greatly 

 resembles the M. gallopavo. 



