THE PHEASANT FAMILY. 



183 



The pheasant, thus grandly attired, is no less admired when served up 

 at the table. 



His flesh is so delicate that its delicacy once became a proverb, and 

 v hen a doctor in those days wished to recommend an article of diet, he used 

 to say it was as nice and as wholesome as the flesh of the pheasant. 



.;^^i^ 



THE COMMON PHEASANT. 



There are many varieties of the pheasant, such as the spotted pheasants 

 of China, and the gold and silver pheasants, also brought from that country. 



The spotted pheasant is related to the gold and silver species. It is the 

 most magnificent of the whole tribe, and lives in the dense forests of Java and 

 Sumatra. Its wings consist of very large feathers, nearly three feet long, the 

 outer part of which is adorned with rows of great spots like eyes. It is called 

 Argus, after the imaginary Argus with his hundred eyes. 



