ii8 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



resplendent dark green ; rump, ochre-yellow with scarlet 

 feathers in the upper coverts and on the lower rump ; from the 

 back of the crown projects a crest composed of a few long 

 crimson feathers ; the cape is white, margined with black, with 

 outer feathers deep brown, barred with black ; tail white, 

 speckled and barred with black ; length about 44 inches, tip 

 to tip. The female is considerably smaller than the male 

 and shows no sign of the cape ; the crown and hind neck plumage 

 is washed with greyish ; back, buff-brown, barred ; chest, buff, 

 with under-parts lighter. 



The Amherst has long been known in Occidental aviaries, 

 and some interesting crosses between it and the Golden have 

 been made. To my mind this bird is the most beautiful of 

 all the Pheasants found in Western China. A colloquial name 

 around Wa shan for it is " Kwong-kwong che." The shooting 

 of this Pheasant, save by chance, is very difficult, but there 

 are places where, by adopting the methods advocated for 

 securing the Golden Pheasant, a few birds at any rate would 

 reward an ardent sportsman. As a table-bird the Amherst 

 is scarcely worthy of consideration ; the flesh is coarse and 

 without flavour. 



BLOOD PHEASANTS 



A common bird in the upland thickets between 8000 to 

 12,000 feet elevation throughout western Szechuan is Ithagenes 

 geoffroyi. Aroimd Tachienlu it is abundant, especially in 

 thickets of Evergreen Oak and Juniper. This bird lies very 

 close and is usually found in small coveys. When pressed by 

 the dog it flies up into the taller bushes, making at the same 

 time considerable noise, half fear, half scold in tone. 



In the male the crest is dark grey ; feathers of the back 

 and chest lance-shaped, grey, each with a fine longitudinal white 

 stripe ; breast and sides, light green ; under tail- coverts and 

 few of upper coverts, crimson ; tail-feathers, light grey, edged 

 with crimson ; spurs, i to 4 on each leg ; length, about 

 18 inches, tip to tip. Female very similar to male ; length, 

 i6|- inches, tip to tip. 



On Wa shan Mr. Zappey shot specimens of what proved 



