PHEASANT. 187 



They avail him much in procuring for him an ample supply of food 

 and protection ; and since die he must for food, death by gunshot 

 wound is perhaps less painful than by any other mode. 



The Pheasant introduced into Britain so many centuries 

 since, Phasianus co/chicus, remained pure in breed until the end of 

 the last century, when other hardy varieties of Pheasant began to 

 be introduced, and the crossing of different breeds set in. The 

 first to be introduced was the Collared or Ring-necked 

 Pheasant, of Southern China, Phasianus torquatus. It is 

 smaller than the common Pheasant. It has bright plumage, great 

 metalHc lustre, with a band or ring of clear white feathers round 

 its neck (it is from this it gets its specific name), buff flanks, and 

 a rich tint of lavender and green on its wing and tail-coverts. 

 Except in these particulars, says Cuvier, it scarcely differs from the 

 Colchican Pheasant. It differs, also, however, in having a more 

 restless, wandering disposition. It is a bold bird, quick in flight, 

 and in spring will fly for miles, Don Juan-like, to visit the Pheasants 

 of all the neighbouring, or even of the distant woods. 



The Ring-necked Pheasant was first introduced into English 

 coverts by the Duke of Northumberland, says Montague, in 1802. 

 It proved so hardy and prolific that it soon spread rapidly. Its 

 courage and vigour render it easily tameable. The hens lay much 

 earlier in the season than any other variety of Pheasant, and produce 

 a more abundant supply of eggs ; and thus, when egg-selling began 

 to be the trade it has since become, it was much more profitable 

 to the breeders to use this variety. In this way too it has come to 

 pass, from the general distribution of eggs, that the " prime old 

 English breed," as it is sometimes called, with its great size, its 

 dark black and red breast, the large patch of crimson round the 

 eyes, and its deep red rump-feathers, is seldom to be met with 

 untainted by the cross. 



Some few years since, Mr. Frank Buckland regularly visited 

 the game-shops in London for two seasons, and examined the large 

 supply of Pheasants they received, without finding a single true 

 specimen of Phasiajius colchicus. At Mr. Buckland's request, 



