14 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORV. 



Female Pheasants that have become barren either from age 

 or through disease of the ovary, generally assume the plumage 

 of the cock to a greater or less extent, and we have known a 

 number of instances in which the male plumage had been so 

 perfectly donned that it was only by the smaller size, blunt 

 spurs, and much shorter tail, that the true sex of the individual 

 could be ascertained. Last year I examined a hen Pheasant 

 in perfectly normal plumage, but with a well-developed sharp 

 spur on each leg ; this bird, on dissection, was found to have 

 been shot in the left ovary, a No. 2 or 3 shot (!) being there 

 embedded, which had destroyed the organ, and given rise to 

 an ugly tumourous growth. The wound was evidently an old- 

 standing one, but in this instance the plumage had remained 

 normal. 



The Common Pheasant not only crosses with other species 

 of its own kind, but hybrids are occasionally produced be- 

 tween it and the Black Game, Domestic Fowl, and Guinea 

 Fowl, while instances are on record of hybrids between 

 Pheasant and Capercaillie. 



Albinos and piebald birds arc by no means an uncommon 

 occurrence among our semi-domesticated birds, but no doubt 

 much rarer among really wild individuals. 



Nest. — A mere hollow in the ground, roughly lined with dead 

 leaves, and carefully hidden from view by dead fern, brambles, 

 or coarse grass or other herbage. 



Eggs. — Vary in number from eight to twelve, but a score or 

 more are sometimes found in one nest, probably the produce of 

 more than one female ; they are broad ovals, slightly pointed at 

 the smaller end, generally brown or olive-brown in colour, 

 more rarely bluish-green, uniform in tint, and with rather a 

 smooth polished shell. Average measurements, I'S by 1-4 

 inch. 



SUB-SP. a. THE TALISCH PHEASANT. PHASIANUS TALISCHENSIS. 



JPhasianus persicus talischensis, Lorenz, J. f. O. 1888, p. 571. 



