GALLlNACEiE. 313 



Several species of Wild Cocks are known. The first, 

 Gallus Sonneratii, Tern. Col. 232 and 233, (The Jungle Cock), 

 was described by Sonnerat, Voy. II, Atl. 117, 118, and is very re- 

 markable for the feathers on the neck of the male, the steins of 

 which widen at the bottom into three successive disks of a horny 

 nature. The crest is denticulate. It is found in the ghauts of 

 Hiiidostan. 



Two others have been brought from Java by M. Lechenaud, one 

 of which, Gall. Bankiva, Tern., has a denticulated crest like the 

 preceding; all the feathers of the neck being long, pendent, and of 

 the most beautiful golden red; it appears to me to bear the greatest 

 resemblance to our Domestic Cock. The other, Phas. varius, Shaw, 

 Nat. Misc. 353 ; Ajamalas; Gall.furcatus, Tem. Col. 374, is black, 

 with a cupreous-green neck, speckled with black ; the crest entire, 

 and a small kind of dewlap, without latei-al wattles. 



Pheasants, properly so called, 



Have a long cuneiform tail, each of its quills being inclined on two 

 planes, and covering each other like tiles. The most common, 



P.colchicus, L.; Enl. 121 and 122, (The Common Pheasant of 

 Europe), was brought into Europe by the Argonauts, as it is said, 

 from the banks of the Phasis. It is now spread throughout all 

 temperate Europe, where it requires, however, a great deal of care. 

 The head and neck of the male are of a deep green, M-ith two small 

 tufts on the occiput; the rest of the plumage is of a golden fawn co- 

 lour, speckled with green. The female is brownish, speckled and 

 variegated with a darker brown. 



China has lately furnished us with three other species, which, with the 

 Peacock, form the ornaments of our aviaries, viz. 



Ph. torquatus, which scarcely differs from the common one, ex- 

 cept in having a brilliant white spot on each side of the neck. 



Ph. nycthemerus, L. (The Silver Pheasant). "White, with very 

 fine blackish lines on each feather, and the belly entirely black. 



Ph. pictus, L. ; Enl. 217. (The Golden Pheasant). So remark- 

 able for its magnificent plumage; the belly is of a bright red; a 

 beautiful crest of a golden colour hangs from the head; the neck is 

 clothed with a collerette of orange, speckled with black ; the upper 

 part of the back is green, the lower part and the rump yellow; the 

 wings red, with a beautiful blue spot; the tail very long, brown, 

 spotted with grey, &c. It appears to me that Pliny's description of 

 the Phoenix, lib. x, cap. 2, was taken from this beautiful bird. 



The females of all these species have shorter tails than the males, 

 and the plumage variously marked with different shades of grey or 

 brown*. 



One of the most singular of all birds is, 



• Add, the Fahan versicolor, — Pfias. Diardi, Tem., discovered by Messrs. Diard 

 and Duvaucel, Vieill. Gal. pi. cev. 



