122 PHASIANUS COLCHICUS. 



blackish-blue, forming a deep indenture, which gradually dis- 

 appears on the lower feathers. Those of the hind-neck have 

 also a narrow terminal edge, with a central spot of black. On 

 the back, the dark markings of the Common and Ring-necked 

 Pheasants are retained ; as are the transverse bars of the tail. 

 The ground colour of the whole plumage however, excepting 

 that of the head, upper part of the neck, and middle of the 

 breast, is pale reddish-grey or cream-colour, deeper and more 

 glossy on the fore-neck. The hind part of the back is chiefly 

 a pale dull green . The middle of the breast is blackish-brown, 

 the feathers tipped with green. The quills and tail-feathers 

 are mottled with pale brown. On the tarsus are about nine- 

 teen scales in each of the anterior series, on the first toe seven, 

 the second fifteen, the third twenty- two, the fourth seventeen. 



Length to end of tail So inches ; tail 21 ; wing from flexure 

 10; bill along the back IJ ; tarsus 2| ; first toe {'^^ its claw 

 8 J twelfths ; second toe I/2, its claw y% ' third toe 2/2, its 

 claw -/g ; fourth toe 1/2, its claw d\ twelfths ; spur \. 



This Bohemian Pheasant cannot of course be considered in 

 any other light than as a mere variety or race. I am informed 

 that it as often has a white ring on the neck as not. It is also 

 alleged by some gamekeepers that the Ring Pheasants have 

 not the white ring until the third year. 



A very remarkable variation, which, however, occurs in other 

 Gallinaceous birds, is exhibited by some females, which, in a 

 less or greater degree, assume the plumage of the male. 



Habits. — The Common Pheasant is generally supposed to 

 have been originally brought from the banks of the Phasis, 

 one of the rivers of Colchis, whence its name, Phasianus Col- 

 chicus ; and our Ring-necked Pheasant is alleged to be the 

 spurious descendant of another species, Phasianus torquatus, 

 introduced into this country from China. The pale-coloured, 

 or Bohemian, is merely an accidental variety, which appears 

 occasionally in preserves. The species is said to be generally 

 distributed over Europe, excepting the northern parts, which 

 are too cold for its constitution. It is now very abundant in 

 most parts of England, and in the southern and middle di- 



