MEDALLION PHEASANT. 61 



membrane in that situation. The colours are 

 most brilliant, being principally purple; with 

 bright red and green spots ; they are vivid and 

 dazzling, varying, as in the wattle of the turkey- 

 cock, according to the greater or lesser degree 

 of passion exhibited by the bird. It is supposed, 

 and no doubt correctly, that it is only to be found 

 in the male specimens of this bird, for a female 

 has not yet been seen. This beautiful appendage 

 is never perceived to descend, excepting during 

 the spring months or pairing season of the year. 

 The birds in Mr. Beale's aviary were procured 

 from the Yun-nan province, bordering upon the 

 country of Thibet : he has not, however, suc- 

 ceeded in his endeavours to obtain females of this 

 elegant bird. I have coloured drawings of this 

 bird in my possession, correctly executed by a 

 Chinese artist.* 



* The brilliancy of the Chinese colours for painting, &c. 

 has often been very highly extolled as being superior to the 

 European. What surprise must it create, then, when we are 

 informed that the colours used are of English manufacture, 

 and the Chinese artists are eager for, and anxiously inquire 

 after, them. This reminds me of the gross ignorance fre- 

 quently displayed by our countrymen in foreign countries, — 

 purchasing English articles abroad at a high price as foreign 

 manufacture, and as unattainable in their native land. It was 

 mentioned as a fact, that a person purchased an elegant Lon- 

 don clock in a shop at Canton, at a high price, to take to 



