THE HORNED PHEASANT. 



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THE HORNED PHEASAISTS OF THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF INDIA. 







IMvS^ 



[The Homed Pheasant.] 



The Pheasants ( Phaaianidic) form one of the 

 most interesting groups of the feathered race, 

 whatever he tlie point of view in which we con- 

 template them. Their beauty of fonn and the 

 splendor of their hues have attracted universal 

 admiration. Many dazzle by the metallic lustre 

 of their plumage, which gleams with green, and 

 blue, and gold. Such, for example, is the case 

 with that gorgeous bird, the Impeyan Pheasant 

 f Lophophorux ImpcyonusJ of the Himalayan i 

 Mountains, which it has several times been at- 

 tempted to bring alive into this country, but 

 hitherto without success. Others, as the Golden 

 Pheasant of China (Phasianvs Pictuxj. delight 

 us with the richness and multiplicily of their 

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tints, which contrast admirably with each other. 

 The Common Phea-sant, now naturalized over 

 the greater portion of Europe, is exceediniily 

 beautiful, but it is f:u- surpas.'^^d by many of its 

 congeners, of which we may mention that ele- 

 gant Chinese species, the Phosianiis Recvesii 

 (P. venesatun, Temm.), of which a fine speci- 

 men adorns the Gardens of the Zoological Soci- 

 ety. It is to be ob.served, however, that this 

 beauty of plumage is confined to the males ; the 

 females are universally attired in a sober dress 

 of brown — often, indeed, exquisitely penciled 

 with spots and zigzag lines, but totally destitute 

 of the brilliant hues which glisten in their mates 

 Indtpf-ndeutK-, however, of the beauty of the 



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