THE TRUE PHEASANTS, 19 
the two former with a green spot on each side of the shaft ; 
and the chest- and breast-feathers edged with dark green. ‘The 
middle of the breast and sides of the belly are, moreover, con- 
spicuously dark green. This species bears the same relation- 
ship to P. chrysomelas, described below, that P. persicus bears 
to P. principalis. Total length, 35°5 inches; wing, 9°6; tail, 
19°5 ; tarsus, 2°7. 
Adult Female—Much paler than the female of P. colchicus, 
the ground-colour of the mantle being pale rufous-buff, and the 
general colour of the rest of the plumage /ght duff. Total 
jeneth, 2374 inches ; wing, $°3 ; tail; 11°2; tarsus, 2°3- 
Range.—Valleys of Yarkand and Kashgar, as far east as the 
Aksu and Khotan rivers. 
Habits.—Dr. J. Scully writes :—‘‘ This fine Pheasant is a per- 
manent resident in the plains of Eastern Turkestan, frequent- 
ing long grass jungle and reeds growing in waste ground. — It is 
said to occur most plentifully in the Dolan jungle, Makit and 
Maralbashi being mentioned as places where it is particularly 
numerous. However, it is common enough near Kashgar and 
Yarkand. I know of two rather good places for this Pheasant, 
one between Yarkand and Kokrabat, and another near Besh- 
kant. The flight of this bird is rather slow, and it commonly 
goes over the long grass only for a short distance, and then 
drops down. Whenalarmed the male bird utters a harsh, shrill 
cry. 
“These Pheasants are the most untameable birds it is pos- 
sible to conceive. In confinement they knock their tails to 
pieces, and wear all the feathers off their heads in insane 
attempts at escape ; so that a dozen of these birds, after they 
have been captives for awhile, become the most ragged crew 
imaginable. Even after being kept in a pheasant-house for 
months, whenever one approached within a dozen yards of 
them, they were so alarmed that they would almost knock 
themselves to pieces, tumble over each other, and fly straight 
c 2 
