Phasianus colchicus atid its Allies. 169 



The difference between these two races is by no means small, 

 and is remarkably well defined geographically. Phasianus 

 colchicus and its allied sub-races are only found west of the 

 meridian of Calcutta ; whereas P. torquatus and its allies are 

 only found east of that line (about long. 90" E.). 



The two races may be contrasted as follows : — 



P. COLCHICUS. P. TOBQUATUS. 



Predominant colour of rump. Predominant colour of rump, 



upper tail-coverts and tail red. upper tail-covert?, and tail green 



and lavender-grey. 



Cross-bars on tail-feathers nax- Cross-bars on tail-feathers broad, 

 row. 



Ground-colour of mantle red. Ground-colour of mantle buff 



Crown green. Crown greyish. 



Wing-coverts white or red. Winsr-coverts lavender-grey. 



While the true Pheasants may be divided longitudinally 

 into these two races, they may also be divided latitudiually 

 into two other races. A line drawn from Astrakan through 

 the valley of the Amu-Darya, following the watershed of the 

 Pamir and Thian-shan ranges, crossing the desert of Gobi 

 and Thibet, entering China north of Sechuen, and passing 

 southwards east of that province, divides the Ringed Phea- 

 sants fi'om those which have no ring — the former lying north 

 of the line, and the latter south of it. 



Confining our attention to the western races, it may be 

 interesting to trace their various geographical ranges, and 

 point out the chai-acters which distinguish one race from 

 another. 



Typical examples of the six races of P. colchicus may be 

 distinguished as follows : — 



X- ^ .1, (colchicus \ Wing-coverts reddish 



rso green on the j brown. 



centre of the J 



breast or on j ^ 



[ principalis I Feathers of mantle 



> broadly edged wiih 

 chrt/somelas . . . . ) green. 



t:?Mici. 



A white cofiar roimd 



nungoiicuf ■{ the back and sides 



of neck. 



