The Gold Pheasant. 35 



at the base of the tail, and the two centre feathers 

 of the tail all sought after. Good, rich, deep- 

 coloured toppings will always command a price ; but 

 soiled, shed, or moulted feathers are of no value. 



The adult cock has his crest varying from pale 

 straw to almost deep orange. This latter colour has 

 of late years become very prevalent, but it is not cor- 

 rect ; it has been caused by the introduction of Amherst 

 blood ; the right colour is very pale orange. The 

 longer the crest, the more valuable the bird. The 

 tippet should be of deep orange, margined with blue- 

 black, with another similar bar a short distance above ; 

 breast deep, rich red ; shoulder dark green ; wing 

 coverts steel-blue ; tail brown, with round, black spots, 

 and about five spear or stiff red feathers on each side- 

 The hen is of a quiet brown ; feathers having black 

 margins, and more yellow than the hen of the Amherst. 

 Both sexes should have yellow legs. Eye of male, 

 white; of hen, brown. For the first year, the sexes 

 are nearly alike, but are readily distinguished by the 

 eye of the cock, and by signs of coming crest 

 feathers. 



Of all the pheasants for pets, probably none is so 

 suitable as the Gold ; it is not large like the Reeves' 

 or the Silvers. It requires but little room, is Very 

 hardy, easy to rear, readily tamed, and always in 

 demand if you wish to sell. Like everything else, 

 however, it has its drawbacks : it does not come into 

 full plumage until a year old, and the cock is very 

 pugnacious and apt to kill the hens, as does also its 



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