194 RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



taken. The female also differs in her lesser size, and 

 comparative length of the tail. The ground colour 

 of the plumage is brown. There are no dark spots 

 upon the breast, and the barring of the tail is very 

 distinctly marked ; but what Temminck has observed 

 to be tbe principal distinction in the female, is a little 

 band of thick and black feathers, which runs a short 

 way under each eye, and which he thinks is wanting 

 in the other. 



The common pheasant does not much differ in its 

 markings from those of the mixed breed we are ac- 

 customed to see, except in the entire want of the 

 ring, and the peculiar tint upon the head and rump, 

 but it is longer by five or six inches than the other, 

 extending to three feet. 



Of the habits of these birds in a natural state, we 

 know little in reality, but have no reason to doubt 

 their similarity to those exhibited in our own coun- 

 try ; and the deep matted jungles of India, particu- 

 larly where water abounds, must be their favourite 

 resort. In their naturalized state, woods with a thick 

 undergrowth of brush, brambles, long grass, &c. and 

 interspersed with open glades, which some little 

 stream refreshes, and the sun enlivens, are their de- 

 light during the day, and whence they run morning 

 and evening to the open skirts, where some favourite 

 food abounds. It is in their way to such feeding 

 ground, that they are so easily secured by unqua- 

 lified persons, for, never taking flight unless dis- 

 turbed, they nui and thread their way through these 



