$14 THE PHEASANT. 



specks of black : the feathers upon the head are differ- 

 ent shades of purple, blue, and bright green ; those 

 upon the breast, the shoulders, the middle of the back, 

 and under the wings, have a dark blackish ground, but 

 tinged at the edges with a purple exquisitely bright, 

 with transverse streaks the colour of gold : the tail, 

 from the middle of the feathers to the root, is about 

 eighteen inches long ; and the legs, feet, and toes are 

 the colour of horn : they have spurs upon the legs, ra- 

 ther shorter than a cock's ; and two of their toes are 

 united by a membranous skin. 



It is not merely for the beauty of the plumage that 

 the pheasant is held in such high esteem, for its flesh 

 is considered as one of the choicest delicacies that can 

 possibly adorn the tables of the great. 



When wild in the woods, the hen-pheasant lays from 

 eighteen to twenty eggs in a season ; but, in a state of 

 domesticity, seldom above ten ; in the former situation 

 she is both a vigilant and careful mother ; but, in the lat- 

 ter, she becomes totally inattentive, and her young arc 

 frequently obliged to be committed to the care of the 

 cock to prevent them from suffering from her neglect. 



Of the pheasant, as of all domestic fowls, there arc a 

 great many varieties ; amongst the number are the white 

 pheasant, the crested pheasant, the spotted pheasant, 

 and the golden pheasant, which is a native of China, 

 and infinitely more beautiful than any of the rest, 



THE PINTATA, OR GUINEA-HEN. 



This is a very remarkable bird, and in some measure 

 unites the characteristics of the pheasant and the tur- 

 key, as it has the fine delicate shape of the one and the 

 bare head of the other. In size, it resembles a common 

 hen, but its legs are much longer than those of that bird 



