136 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



10 or 11 inches. The female is greyish all over, and has 

 none of the metallic gloss so characteristic of the male; she 

 measures about 2 feet 2 inches in full length. 



The pheasant is also a naturalised species in Britain, but 

 the date of its introduction is not known ; it is doubtful, 

 too, if any really wild specimens exist, but is largely bred 

 for shooting, and strictly preserved, to the detriment of 

 many more useful and handsome native species which are 

 supposed to be detrimental to it. 



The natural food consists of seeds, berries, acorns, etc., as 

 well as leaves, shoots, and insects ; but Engli.-sh pheasants are 

 usually fed artificially. 



They are polygamous, each male having from five to 

 nine hens, which begin to la}' in April or Ma}-, after which 

 they are deserted b}'^ the male, who pays no more attention 

 to them or to their young. The number of eggs produced 

 varies greatly, but an undisturbed nest generally contains 

 ten, which are smooth of surface, and of a light olivaceous 

 colour, tiiickly spotted with minute pits. Incubation lasts 

 about twent3'-six days. 



At the present time many of the eggs are hatched in 

 incubators or under hens of the dorking or barn-door types, 

 and but few are left to the hen pheasants to bring up. 



These birds are jjood eatinof, but the disgusting: and un- 

 healthy fashion of not cooking them until they are putrid 

 is losing ground in popular estimation. The}' have been 

 crossed with Reeves's pheasant. 



The Peacock, the Turkey, and the Guinea Fowl are 

 now fairly acclimatised in Britain ; but it will be more 

 convenient to consider the fii'st along with the birds of 

 India, the second with those of North America, and the 

 third when we come to treat of those that belong to the 

 British possessions in Western Africa. 



