THE TRUE PHEASANTS. ^ 



b. With a broad white ring round the necly 



(species 8, pp. 22 24), 



B, General colour of the lower back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts greenish' or bluish-slate colour, with a rust- 

 coloured patch on each side (except in P. versi- 

 colo?'). 



c. With a white ring round the neck (species 



9 to II, pp. 24-28). 



d. With no white ring round the neck, or with 



only traces of one (species 12 to 16, 

 pp. 28-33). 



II. Crown of the head reddish-brown (species ly^pp. 34-37). 



III. Crown of the head white (species 18, pp. 37-41), 



BothSoemmerring's and Reeves's Pheasants represent peculiar 

 and somewhat aberrant types, the latter being placed by some 

 authors in the distinct genus Syrmaticus, on account of its 

 immensely long tail. Exclusive of these two birds and the 

 rather distinct green-bellied form {P. versicolor) from Japan, 

 the remaining representatives of the genus Phasianus are all 

 birds of the same type as the Common Pheasant (Z'. colchicus). 

 It is interesting to note that, roughly speaking, all the species 

 with white rings round their necks are northern forms, while 

 those without this ornament, or with only traces of it, are only 

 met with farther south. On the other hand, all the maroon- 

 rumped species are found west of about 90° E. long,, while 

 those with grey rumps are only found to the east of this 

 line. P. colchicus and its allies, which have no white rino- 

 but have a maroon-coloured rump, inhabit the area south 

 of about 41° N. lat., and west of about 80° E. long., while 

 P. iiiongolicus and P. seniitorquatus^ both of which have well- 

 marked white collars, as well as maroon rumps, are met 

 with north of about 41°, and west of about 90° E. long. 

 Again, among the grey-rumped species, P, elegans and the 



