CHAPTER VIII 

 Scemmerring's Pheasant {P/iasianus Soemmerringii) 



This species of Pheasant is indigenous to the southern 

 portions of Japan, existing in localities similar to those 

 occupied by the Japanese Pheasant (/*. Versicolor). The 

 ornithologist Temminck, appears to have been one of the first 

 European Naturalists to describe the bird with any degree of 

 accuracy, though sportsmen had given descriptions of it prior 

 to the observations of the ornithologist referred to. It is an 

 uncommon species in British game preserves, mainly because 

 of its pugnacious habits. In other respects it is suitable for 

 crossing with the common Pheasant. 



Confinement in aviaries has possibly something to do with 

 exciting the vicious habits of this species, as such confinement 

 does unquestionably tend towards the production of irritability 

 of temperament. Scemmerring's Pheasant breeds readily in 

 the aviaries, and specialists in fancy Pheasants can usually 

 supply birds of this species ; if not the birds, eggs for 

 hatching. 



The plumage of this Pheasant is extremely handsome, and 

 two very characteristic features presented by the male and 

 the female are the broad, widely separated, transverse 

 markings on the tail of the former, and the short tail of the 

 latter. 



The breast and under parts of the tail feathers are chestnut ; 

 the upper surface of the throat and back of the bird is also 

 chestnut or coppery brown, but when the feathers are examined 



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