209 



THE GOLDEN PHEASANT. 



PKasianus pictus. LINNAEUS. 

 PLATE XVIII. 



Phasianus pictus, LirmcBus, Latham. Painted or Gold 

 Pheasant, Edwards. Faisan tricolor, Temminjk, Pi- 

 geons et Gallinucts, ii. p. 341. 



IN this bird we see another form among thn true 

 pheasants. The head is crested, and even more am- 

 ply than the last ; the tail is bread, folded, and bend- 

 ing, and the neck is adorned with a ruff of broad 

 truncated feathers, which fall from the occiput around 

 like a hood, and can be raised and depressed at the 

 will of the bird. This form is only exhibited by the 

 present bird, and another described by Mr Lead- 

 beater, under the title of Ph. Amherstia. 



This pheasant may be said to be the most gaudy 

 of its race, and for its gay and splendid plumage and 

 comparative hardiness, is often kept and sought after 

 for the aviary, and is so generally known, that a de- 

 tailed description is unnecessary, particularly where 

 words are so inadequate to convey an idea of the 

 brightness of the plumage. In addition to the bril- 

 liant ruff of golden orange and black* differing from 

 O 



