COMMON PHEASANT. 331 



lead colour ; the spurs become pointed and sharp after the 

 first year. 



The whole length of a male Pheasant is about three feet, 

 depending upon the age of the bird, and the consequent 

 length of the two middle feathers of the tail, which fre- 

 quently measure two feet. Wing from the carpal joint to 

 the end, nearly ten inches ; the wing in form rounded ; the 

 fifth quill-feather the longest. 



The female measures about two feet. The general colour 

 of the plumage pale yellowish brown, varied by different 

 shades of darker brown ; sides of the neck tinged with red 

 and green. 



Young birds, of both sexes, in their first plumage, re- 

 semble the females. 



Females assuming the plumage of males may be known 

 by their partial want of brilliancy of tint ; the golden red 

 feathers on the breast generally want the contrast of the 

 broad dark velvet-like margin ; the legs and feet retaining 

 their smaller and more slender female character, and are 

 without spurs. 



White and Pied varieties of the Pheasant are not un- 

 common ; and this account of our Pheasant having extend- 

 ed to an unusual length, the Ring-necked and Bohemian 

 Pheasants will, for brevity's sake, be considered also as only 

 varieties. The first may be known, when old enough, by 

 the white feathers which form part of a circle on the sides 

 and back of the neck ; I have never, in the oldest speci- 

 mens, seen the ring continued round the front ; the saddle 

 hackle feathers have peacock-green and copper reflections ; 

 the tail-feathers have broader dark bars, and the spaces 

 between the bars are speckled with black. 



The two or three examples which I have seen of what 

 are called the Bohemian Pheasant, shot in this country, 

 have appeared to be accidental varieties, very pale in colour 



