THE TRUE PHEASANTS. 15 



Pliasianus talischensis^ Ogilvie- Grant, Cat. B. Eiit. ]\Ius. xxii. 

 p. 324 (1893). 



This is an intermediate form between P. cohJucus and the 

 following species, P. persiciis^ but most nearly allied to the 

 former. 



Adult Male. — Differs from P. persicus and resembles P, 

 colchicus in having the wing-coverts sandy-brown instead of 

 nearly white ; on the other hand, the middle of the breast and 

 sides of the belly are purplish-carmine^ and the feathers of the 

 chest and upper breast are narrowly margined with purple, as 

 in P, persicus. 



Adult Female. — Similar to the female of P. colchicus. 



Range. — This sub-species inhabits Talisch, a district border- 

 ing the south-western shore of the Caspian Sea. It is most 

 likely this bird (called P, colchicus by Mr. W. T. Blanford) 

 is plentiful throughout Mazandaran to the Gurgan River, which 

 enters the Caspian Sea on the south coast. To the north 

 of this, true P, persicus is found. 



Habits — No doubt perfectly similar to Ihosj of its Western 



ally. 



II. THE PERSIAN PHEASANT. PHASIANUS PERSICUS. 



Phasianus persicus^ Severtz. Bull. Mosc. xlviii. pt. 3, p. 208 

 (1875) ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 324 



(iS93)- 

 Adult Male. — May be easily distinguished from P. colchicus 

 by having the lesser and median zving-coverts 7iearly white. The 

 lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are more strongly 

 glossed with purplish-lake in all lights ; the black bars down the 

 middle of the tail-feathers are much narrower ; the feathers of 

 the chest and breast are glossed with purplish-lake and with 

 much narrower dark purple 7fiargins, and the middle of the 

 breast and sides of the belly are purplish-carmine. Total 

 length, 35 inches; wing, 9*3; tail, i9'5 ; tarsus, 2*8 



