10 M. Sain t-Hil aire on the Females of Pheasants 



bably obtained the age of five or six years, not only cease to 

 be prolific, or are so in a very slight degree, but assume a 

 plumage which becomes more and more similar to that of the 

 male the older they grow, so that they resemble males with 

 dull and discoloured plumage." 



He informs us afterwards, that he dissected a coquard about 

 1770 ; that Vicq-d'Azyr subsequently dissected many, and 

 that all were females, in which the ovary was, to use his own 

 words, u so much obliterated as to elude their search." He also 

 adds, that a ranger of the forest of Saint Germain had dis- 

 covered that old pheasant hens which had ceased to lay ac- 

 quired a good deal of the male plumage. " This fact," he 

 observes in conclusion, " has doubtless escaped observation in 

 jaisanderies, because there only young females are kept ; but 

 the phenomenon has been since verified in the female of the 

 golden pheasant of China, (Phasianus pictus, L.) because 

 these rare birds are preserved as long as possible." 



Such are the observations of Mauduit, who, it is evident, 

 has confined himself to the change of plumage ; and no one 

 since his time has bestowed any attention upon this interest- 

 ing physiological phenomenon, which has even been noticed 

 in very few works devoted to ornithology. I am, therefore, 

 induced to publish some analogous facts which I have collect- 

 ed, and which I regard as sufficiently interesting, and more 

 complete, from being the experience of a greater number of 

 years. By means of this advantage, I shall be enabled to 

 bring forward various details connected with the change of 

 plumage, and to show that the passage which Mauduit had 

 only seen to be partially effected, is sometimes full and com- 

 plete. 



My observations have been made upon the pencilled phea- 

 sant {Phasianus nycthemerus^) the collar'd pheasant (P. tor- 

 quatus,) and the common pheasant (P. colchicus.) 



1. The common Pheasant. — The female of this species was 

 reared in the faisanderie of the museum. She ceased to lay 

 at the age of about five years, and the change of plumage be- 

 gan to be developed about the same period. It became first 

 apparent on the belly, which acquired a more yellow tint, and 

 upon the neck, the colours of which became more lively ; in a 



