6 Mr. J. D. D. La Touche on the [Ibis, 



are said to be a wide and complete white collar and dark 

 flanks, to which Pere David adds a white spot, often present, 

 below the ear. The examination of, I may say^ hundreds of 

 these pheasants, during seven. winters at Chinwangtao, has 

 convinced me that, whereas the more or less broad white collar 

 is a constant feature, the depth of colouring of the flanks, 

 as also the development of the eyebrow, the green of the 

 lower back and rumj), and the ear-spot are variable features. 

 The last-mentioned character may be put aside as of no 

 distinctive value ; some birds have it, others not. A few 

 birds obtained in the market have the white on the neck so 

 extended that the base of all the green feathers from the 

 ring to the ear is white. The Avidth of the ring is also 

 extremely variable and the hinder part of it is often very 

 narrow, the feathers being edged with black or green. Some 

 birds procured in the market have the flanks and the base of 

 the hind neck of a very rich and dark orange colour, and 

 these have also generally the ridge of the back and rump of 

 a deep olive colour with a bright emerald sheen. Very 

 occasionally one comes across a specimen which is no darker 

 than Lower Yangtse birds. Again, the edging of the copper- 

 red breast-feathers is variable and cannot be taken into con- 

 sideration ; some birds have this edging broad and complete, 

 others have but a mer^ apical speck. On the other hand, 

 the scapulars show very little variation, such as is not 

 uncommon in Lower Yangtse birds. 



Several examples, shot at twenty to twenty-flve miles north 

 of the port, may be specially inentioned. These have all 

 dark flanks and the green on the back and rump is brilliant; 

 but one bird (not purchased), whicii was evidently a bird of 

 the year, had very little green on the back. The eyebrow 

 is very white and broad in thiee examples, dull or of medium 

 development in six others. Tiie ear-spot is present in five 

 and absent in four. The width of the white ring varies: in 

 front from about 2 in. to 1 in. ; on the sides from l:^in. to 

 2 in. ; behind, from about half an inch to 0'20 in. 



In comparing the north-east Chihli Pheasant with the 

 Lower Yangtse Pheasant, there is only one constant feature 



