104 



PHASIANID^. 



black ; legs, spurs, toes, and claws, brownish-lead colour ; 

 the spurs become pointed and sharp after the first year. 



The whole length of a male Pheasant is about three feet, 

 depending upon the age of the bird, and the consequent 

 length of the two middle feathers of the tail, which fre- 

 quently measure two feet. Wing from the carpal joint to 

 the end, nearly ten inches ; the wing in form rounded ; the 

 fifth quill-feather the longest. 



The female measures about two feet. The general colour 

 of the plumage pale yellowish-brown ; varied by different 

 shades of darker brown ; sides of the neck tinged with red 

 and green. Females assuming the plumage of males may 

 be known by the absence of brilliancy of tint, and the golden 

 red feathers on the breast generally want the contrast of the 

 broad dark velvet-like margin. The legs and feet retain 

 their smaller and more slender female character, and are 

 usually without spurs ; but Mr. Bond has an example with 

 a spur on one leg. 



Young birds, of both sexes, in their first plumage, re- 

 semble the females. 



White and Pied varieties of the Pheasant are not uncom- 

 mon ; but for further details, as well as for instructions as 

 to the management of Pheasants both in the covert and 

 the aviary, and the disorders to which they are liable, the 

 reader is referred to Mr. Tegetmeier's excellent work already 

 mentioned. 



