

^5 







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.■T* 



THE SILVER PHEASANT. 



The Silver Pheasant, both in external form and natural disposition, exhibits nuicli 

 analogy with the birds of the genus Galliis. It is easily tamed, and might be entirely 

 domesticated. Its robust constitution accords more witla that of the common fowl than 

 that of the other pheasants. The form of its caudal plumes, and the mode of their inser- 

 tion, also,- present great analogies to the domestic cock. 



The total length of the male bird is about two feet eisht inches. Its cheeks are 

 clothed with an apparently naked slvin of a bright red colour, advancing forwards above 

 the eyes so as to form a kind of crest, and terminating in a pendulous fold on each side of 

 the lower mandible. ' The top of the head is ornamented by a tuft of long black feathers, 

 which fall down over the upper part of the back of the neck. On the sides of the head 

 and neck, the entire surface of tlie back and wings, and the upper part of the tail, the 

 plumage is of a bright silvery white, traversed with the greatest regularity by an infinite 

 number of finely pencilled black lines passing obliquely, in the form of chevrons, across 

 the feathers. A striking contrast to this delicacy of tint is afforded by the uniform 

 purpli.sh black of the fore part of the neck, breast, and under surface of the body. 



In the female the red of the cheeks is much less extensive ; the top of the head has a 

 kind of crest of a dusky brown ; tlic neck, breast, and ujjper surface are of an earthy 

 brown, and cro.ssed ijy blackish bands; and tlie tail variegated with black, while, and 

 brown. 



' I'hiiHinmw N'vtlicrcir.us. — I.iiiii, 



