THE PHEASANT SUBFAMILY 



[ORDER : Galliformes. FAMILY : Phasianidce. SUBFAMILY : Phasianinoe] 

 PRELIMINAKY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



[F. C. R. JOURDAIN. W. P. PYCRAFT. A. L. THOMSON] 



PHEASANT \Phasidnus colchicus colchicus Linnaeus; and P. colchicus tor- 

 qudtus (Gmelin). 1 French, faisan ; German, Edelfasan ; Italian, fagiano]. 



i. Description. The pheasant is readily distinguished from all other British 

 game-birds by the long, wedge-shaped, pointed, black-barred tail, and the large size 

 of the face-wattles. The sexes differ conspicuously, and there is no seasonal change 

 of plumage. (PI. 140.) Length 35 in. [889 mm.]. In the male the crown is of a bronze- 

 green, the rest of the head and neck dark green, with purple reflections. The 

 scapulars, interscapulars, and all the under parts save the abdomen are of a golden 

 orange colour. The feathers of the mantle (scapulars and interscapulars) are marked 

 with concentric bands of buff, black, and orange-red, and tipped with purple-lake. 

 The feathers of the fore-neck and breast are notched at the tip, and have terminal 

 black margins. The lower back, rump feathers, and upper tail-coverts are red- 

 maroon, glossed with purplish lake or oil-green, according to the incidence of the light. 

 The mid-breast is of a dark purplish green. The tail feathers have an olive-brown 

 tinge, and are barred with narrow, wide-set black bars, edged with rufous. The 

 sides of the head bear large bare erectile face-wattles, covered with small fleshy, 

 vermilion-red papillae, and a further ornamental feature is produced by short 

 erectile feather-tufts or " horns." The beak is white, and the legs are armed with 

 spurs. The female has a much shorter tail, and is of a sandy brown, barred with 

 black ; the back and sides of the neck have a pinkish tinge and metallic purple or 

 green margins ; the mantle, sides of the breast and flanks are chestnut, with 

 black centres and pinkish grey margins. The tail feathers are of a reddish brown, 



1 Practically all our British pheasants are mongrels, owing to the introduction of many 

 different forms which have interbred, until the true P. colchicus colchicus has disappeared. 



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