PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



wild captures. The Chinese do not offer to hunt them in 

 captivity. A different species of cross is met with in Japan, 

 wanting the spots on the tail, and with darker ruff and 

 blackened chin and throat. I could not ascertain whether 

 this was wild in Japan. It may have been introduced there 

 from China in former years, and altered in the course of time. 

 The Japanese breed Pheasants and produce strange crosses. 

 I saw a bird of very curious appearance at Yokohama, 

 which looked to me like a hybrid between Silver and 

 Gold Pheasants. I also saw in the shops P. Torquatus, but 

 I believe the examples of these were lately brought from 

 China." 



The black-throated bird referred to above by Mr Swinhoe 

 has been described as distinct, which it appears to be, as it 

 presents many differences from the present species in all 

 stages of plumage. When at Antwerp lately, I saw a male, 

 T. Amhersiice, which was mated with a female, T. Picta, and 

 six eggs were the result. Whether they will prove fertile or 

 not remains to be seen, but a cross between these species 

 could not be otherwise than beautiful. 



Of the habits of this species we know absolutely nothing, 

 collectors appearing satisfied with obtaining so charming a bird, 

 without paying any particular attention to its mode of living. 



Pere David writes in the Zoological Proceedings for 1 868 : — 



" That the T. Picta is unknown in the North of China, and 

 that without doubt it is an error to state that the bird is 

 found in Dauria. It is more probably an inhabitant of the 

 mountains in the centre of China and further westwards in 

 the same latitude." 



The male of this beautiful species has the tip of the head 

 and the occiput covered with a long silky amber-coloured 



88 



