^ALLINACE^. 351 



the greatest resemblance to our Domestic Cock. The other, 

 Phas. variuSf Shaw, Nat., Misc., 353; Ajamalas; Gall, furcatus^ 

 Tem. Col. 374, is black, with a cupreous-green neck, speckled 

 with black; the crest entire, and a small kind of dewlap, with- 

 out lateral wattles. 



Pheasants, properly so called, 



Have a long cuneiform tail, each of its quills being inclined on two 

 planes, and covering each other. The most common, 



P. colchicus, L.j Enl., 121, and 122 (The Common Pheasant 

 of Europe), was brought into Europe by the Argonauts, as it is 

 said, from the banks of the Phasis. It is now spread through- 

 out all temperate Europe, where it requires, however, a great 

 deal of care. The head and neck of the male are of a deep 

 green, with two small tufts on the occiput; the rest of the plu- 

 mage is of a golden fawn colour, speckled with green. The fe- 

 male is brownish, speckled and variegated with a darker brown. 

 China has lately furnished us with three other species, which, 

 with the Peacock, form the ornaments of our aviaries, viz. 



Ph. torquatusj Avhich scarcely differs from the common one, 

 except in having a brilliant white spot on each side of the neck. 



Ph. nycthemerus, L. (The Silver Pheasant.) White, with 

 very fine blackish lines on each feather, and the belly entirely 

 black. 



Ph.pictus, L. Enl. 217. (The Golden Pheasant.) So remark- 

 able for its magnificent plumage; the belly is of a bright red; a 

 beautiful crest of a golden colour hangs from the head; the neck 

 is clothed with a coUerette of orange, speckled with black; the 

 upper part of the back is green, the lower part of the rump 

 yello\y; the wings red, with a beautiful blue spot; the tail very 

 long, brown, spotted with grey, cc. It appears to me that 

 Pliny's description of the Phoenix, lib. x, cap. 2, was taken from 

 this beautiful bird. 



The females of all these species have shorter tails than the 

 males, and the plumage variously marked with different shades 

 of grey or brown.(l) 

 One of the most singular of all birds is, 



Ph. Mrgus, L.; L'Jrgus, Vieill., Galer., pi. cciii. (The 

 Argus.) A large Pheasant from the south of Asia, whose head 

 and neck are nearly naked. The tarsi are without spurs; a very 

 long tail to the male; the secondary quills of the wings exces- 

 sively elongated, widened, and covered throughout with ocel- 



(1) Add the Faisan versicolor, Phas. Diardi, Tem., discovered by Messrs Di- 

 ard and Duvaucel, Vieill. Gal. pi. ccv. 



