276 Colour ami Pattern-Transference in Pheasants 



" BBA," F„. " D, C, A," cfc/'- Present: white pattern on black ground 



and black pattern on white ground. 

 " BBA," F.. " E, B," ^^. Absent : unpatterned black as in males of 



both parent species. 

 "BBBA," F,. " P, B, D, A, G, C, F, E." Present: white pattern 



on black ground and black pattern on white ground. 

 " BBBA " inter se, F,. " L, H, 1), N, E" Present : white pattern on 



black ground and black pattern on white ground. 



An investigation into the origin of this mutation in the thigh-tuft 

 led to comparison with the female Swinhoe breast and flank patterns 

 and showed these to be the undoubted source of the vandyke designs of 

 the thigh-tuft mutations which cause quite as marked a change in the 

 appearance of the birds as do the mutations of throat, breast and flank. 

 Individual bird.s differ as to the amount of white on the mutated 

 plumage of the thigh-tuft. 



The tran.sition plumage of the immature male Silver on breast and 

 flank was also examined, but the design is a rounded form, not the 

 pointed vandyke which characterises the " A " series thigh-tuft and the 

 female Swinhoe breast and flank. 



Mutation of central rectrices from unjxitterjied to patterned condition. 



Males of jjarent species : 



Swinhoe unpatterned white, rachis white. 



Silver d^rf" (2). 



One unpatterned white. Rachis black for two inches from 



quill end. 

 One with very slight pattern near the quill end. Rachis 



black for half the length of feather fi-om quill end. 



'' BA," F^. " A, B, C, D, E," ^^. Both vanes heavily patterned. 

 ■' BBA," F„. " .4, B. C, D, E," ^^. Outer vanes much patterned. 

 " BBBA" Fy. " C" c/. Unpatterned ivhite, rachis white (Swinhoe). 



F-^. " F" ^. Patterned white : rachis black at quill end 



changing to white. 

 F,,. " D" (/. Slightly patterned white : rachis black at 

 quill end. 

 „ F^. " J.," j". Unpatterned white: rachis black at quill end 

 (Silver). 



' Much white aud one feather the exact pattern of female Swinhoe breast feather. 



