172 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



P. torquatuSj and are moat gorgeous objects whoa flushed in 

 the sunlight on open ground ; but as the ' strain ' gradually 

 dies out, the green and lavender tints on the back begin to 

 fade, and the rich orange flanks are toned down by degrees ; 

 though still the most marked feature of all, the white ring on 

 the neck, descends from one generation to another, and the 

 hybrid origin of the bird is thus apparent long after every 

 other trace of its mixed parentage has entirely passed 

 away." 



The Chinese pheasant has been introduced into several 

 parts of the globe with success. The rapidity of its increase 

 in New Zealand has already been noticed. As long ago as 

 the year 1513 it was acclimatised in the island of St. Helena 

 in very peculiar circumstances, as related by Brookes in 

 his history of the island. Fernandez Lopes, having deserted 

 from the army of A. Albuquerque at Goa, was exiled, along 

 with a number of negroes, and banished to St. Helena, being 

 supplied with roots, seeds, poultry, and pheasants for turning 

 out. These were of the species now under consideration. 

 Berries and seeds being abundant in the island, the birds 

 became wild, throve amazingly, and on the visit of Captain 

 Cavendish in 1588 he found them in great abundance and 

 admirable condition. In 1875 we are informed, in Melliss's 

 " St. Helena," that they still exist abundantly, and quite 

 maintain the characteristics mentioned by Cavendish. They 

 are protected by game laws, which permit them to be killed, 

 on payment of the licences, for six weeks in the summer or 

 autumn of each year, and hundreds of them are generally 

 killed during one shooting season. They find plenty of 

 covert, and generally make their nests in the long tufty fields 

 of cow-grass (Paspalum scrobiculatum) , 



There can be no doubt that the Chinese or ring-necked 

 species has remained in its purity at St. Helena. Ships going 

 to India via the Cape of Good Hope in the olden time did not 

 sail within a thousand miles of St. Helena; but, taking 

 advantage of the trade winds, they went direct to the coast 



