572 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



country, and little has been done to counteract this added factor in 

 the destruction of the species. As a result there is some danger that 

 the Sage-hen, like the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, may soon be 

 numbered among the Californian birds which have been nearly or 

 quite exterminated through the agency of man. Even the short season 

 and small bag limit accorded the bird within the last few years have 

 not been sufficient to enable it to hold its own. There is plentiful 

 testimony that its numbers are being reduced each year. A close 

 season for a term of years is one remedy that might be applied to 

 good advantage. Although such a plan might cause temporary hard- 

 ship to the hunter who considers the Sage-hen his favorite game bird, 

 he should be willing to make the sacrifice for the sake of perpetuating 

 the species. A close season to allow recuperation, followed by more 

 moderate annual shooting, should be agreed to by every hunter who 

 values this, the largest and one of the finest of the upland game birds 

 of our state. 



Ring-necked Pheasant 

 Phasianus torquaius Gmelin 



Other names — China Pheasant; Denny Pheasant. 



Description — AdiiU male: Top and back of head, dull greenish gray; area 

 above base of bill, iridescent black; stripe from this black patch along side of 

 liead over and behind eye, white ; ear region brownish black ; above this, a tuft 

 of square-ended, iridescent black feathers; broad area on side of head surrounding 

 eye, extending forward to base of bill, and including most of cheek, almost naked, 

 sparingly flecked with small iridescent black feathers; rest of head and neck, iri- 

 descent, greenish blue on fore-neck and sides of neck, purplish below and behind 

 ear, and bluish green on hind neck; broad collar completely encircling base of 

 neck, abruptly white; feathers of upper back buffy yellow, with V-shaped irides- 

 cent black markings ; middle of back and scapulars, rich chestnut red, each feather 

 with a black line concentric Avith margin and enclosing a white area which is mot- 

 tled with drab and black; lower back and rump light grayish green, the marginal 

 feathers washed Avith blue and Avith long tips of rusty red, and the middle feathers 

 with crescontic black, buff and green markings ; some of upper tail cowrts reddish 

 broAvn and drab mixed in fine pattern ; tail very long and pointed, the feathers 

 centrally drab yelloAV with conspicuous narrow bars of black, their margins basally 

 pinkish broAvn barred with deep chestnut red; outer surface of closed Aving chiefly 

 bluish gray; flight feathers light broAvn mottled Avith dull AA'hite ; longer coverts 

 and tertials broadly edged AAath rich chestnut red; inner surface of Aving grayish 

 broAvn mottled Avith Avhite; A\'hole breast fiery bronze AA'ith a conspicuous metallic 

 sheen, each feather Avith a AV-shaped margin of purplish black, the Avhole giving 

 a scaled effect ; sides and flanks deep buffy yelloAV AA-ith largo sharply defined spots 

 of steely blue black ; middle of belly steely blue black ; area about A'ent dull yellow- 

 ish broAvn; imder tail coA^erts rich chestnut mottled AAith black; a spur on tarsus; 

 legs and feet (dried) dull dark ])roAvn. Adult femnle: Top and back of head drab 

 broAvn with extensive broAvnish black feather centers; area about eye Avhite, flecked 

 Avitli dusky ; ear region yelloA\-ish broAAni ; chin and throat uniform yclloAvish Avhite ; 



