138 Some Interesting Birds. 



notes. It is fully as large a bodied bird as the Lady Am- 

 herst's, the dLlerence in the length of 'the tail accounting for the 

 wide dillei-ence in the measurement of the two species. The fol- 

 lowing is little more than a sketchy description of the exquisite 

 plumage of this species: 



Adult Male: Head and neck whitish-grey; mantle, 

 shoulders, wing and breast fiery bronze -red, glossed with a 

 rich golden sheen; the mancic 'is bordered by two white bands, 

 and two white bars cross each wing; a band of metallic 

 purplish-steel crosses the lesser wing-coverts; throat, fore- 

 neck and abdomen white; lower back and rump black, laced 

 with white; tail whitish-grey, barred with cinnamon-chestnut. 

 Total length 33 inches, tail 19. 



Adult Female: General colour light drab-brown, barred 

 and variegated with black above and spotted on the breast; 

 abdomen white; back and sides of neck greyish -brown; throat 

 and fore-neck black; outer tail-feathei's cinnamon-chestnut 

 with black and white tips. Total lengih 20 inches, tail 7|. 



Habitat: It ranges over the mountains of South-eastern 

 China; where it was first discovered by Swinhoe in (the 

 (province of Che-Kiang. It lives in the wooded mountains, 

 moving from place to place, and is not by any means com- 

 mon . 



Eggs: Bufilsh-cream colour, shell smooth and glossy. 

 Average size, Ij by Ij inches. 



In Captivity: AVhile watching this species amid the 

 na,turai environment of one of Mr. Wilhord's numerous aviaries 

 I could not avoid the conclusion how well they earned their 

 title '■ magnificent species," their contrasty plumage standing 

 out grandly against a background of living green. 



The vice of savagery (common in a greater or lesser 

 degree to most species of Pheasants; is very noticeable with 

 this species, and at pairing time the cock may kill the hens, 

 unless careiully watched, ii the run be a small one; in roomy, 

 najtural quarters this trait is not so apparent. With a very- 

 vicious cock it is a good plan to clip his wings and also 

 hobble his legs by tying with a cord, leaving the hen full 

 and free use of wings and feet. 



The food and general treatment ^iven for the pre- 



