GENUS PHASIANUS, Auctorum. 



THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



Phasianus torquatus. TEMMINCK. 

 PLATE XIII. 



Faisan a collier ; Phasianus torquatus, Temminck, Pigeons 

 et Gallinacees, ii. p. 327. 



WITH this bird we enter the genus Phasianus, 

 as it is now restricted by modern ornithologists. 

 Formerly the birds which we have just left were in- 

 cluded in it, and another group which we shall reach 

 after having described a few of the more interesting 

 and typical forms of that now before us. 



The Pheasants may generally be characterized by 

 having the bill rather strong, the upper mandible 

 convex, and naked at the base : the nostrils are la- 

 teral, and covered with a cartilaginous scale. The 

 head is clothed with feathers, but the region of 

 the eyes, for a considerable space, is covered with a 

 naked verrucose skin, generally of a bright vermi- 

 lion. The wings are short, but firm and compact. 

 The tail is remarkably long, generally wedge-shaped. 

 The feet have the anterior toes united by a mem- 



