THE SILVER PHEASANT 



to attack in a most determined manner, and may do serious 

 harm unless its spurs have been removed. The huge 

 development of the spurs renders it particularly dangerous 

 in this respect, so that if it is necessary to keep it amongst 

 fowls, etc., it is better to remove the spurs. 



As previously stated, the male bird is particularly hand- 

 some, whilst the female is a much bigger and finer bird 

 than those belonging to either of the genera Tliaumalea 

 or Phasiamis. 



The leading characteristics of the Kalage Pheasants are 

 the presence of a long hairy crest, laterally compressed tail 

 feathers, and the long spurs. In the male bird the crest is 

 composed of numerous long, fine purple feathers, covering 

 the crown of the head, and projecting backwards about half- 

 way down the neck. The beak is a light horn colour, the 

 upper mandible being very strong, hooked, and projecting 

 about \ of an inch below the lower one. The skin of 

 the face and wattles is crimson, and most brilliant during the 

 pairing season. The feathering on the back and upper part 

 of the neck, as well as that immediately behind the cheeks, is 

 almost pure white, excepting in front of the throat, where it is 

 purplish-black, and continuous with that of the breast and 

 under parts of the body. 



The feathers on the back of the neck are very finely pencilled, 

 the lines radiating obliquely, the colour of the markings being 

 brownish-black. It is the beauty of these dark markings on 

 a white ground - work that confers the silvery aspect so 

 characteristic of these Pheasants. The markings of the 

 feathers on the back are broader. 



A peculiarity is the presence of some white-shafted 

 feathers on the sides of the breast. The wing coverts have 

 longitudinal, sinuous, dark markings, extending from base 

 to apex, whilst the markings on the quill feathers are 



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