208 PHASUNUS COLCHICUS. 



NOTE XXV. 



ON A HERMAPHRODITICAL SPECIMEN OF 

 PHASIANUS COLCHICUS 



Dr. J, BUTTIKOPER. 



A few days ago I had the chance to examine a pecu- 

 liarly colored Pheasant , which after dissection proved to 

 be a hermaphrodite , having a feebly though distinctly 

 developed testicle on the left, and an ovary on the right 

 side. The exterior of the bird shows a curious mixture of 

 the plumage of male and female. Head and neck resemble 

 more the female than the male, but are strongly banded 

 across with metallic green , the surroundings of the eyes 

 are nearly entirely feathered and the red , naked parts 

 much reduced , the two bunches of lengthened feathers on 

 the sides of the hind-head absent , but replaced by a great 

 number of lengthened feathers on the hind neck ; the neck 

 is separated all round from the body by a feebly developed 

 collar like is the case in the female. Mantle, chest and 

 further lower parts glossy chestnut like in the male but 

 without the steelblue terminal edgings to the feathers , 

 the black spot on the centre of the breast much smaller 

 than in the male , back and further upper parts like in 

 the female, but with a somewhat reddish tinge. In size 

 the bird resembles the male; spur wanting. The specimen 

 has been shot at Bloemendaal near Haarlem, on November 

 28th ; it is in possession of Mr. van den Berg at the Hague. 



Leyden Museum, December 1896. 



Notes from the I-ieycleu Museum, Vol. XVIII. 



