152 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



It would be but a tedious and most unprofitable waste of 

 time to enter into the consideration of these numerous breeds 

 of pheasants which the species-mongers have raised to the 

 dignity of distinct species ; suffice to sa}' they are all perfectly 

 fertile, inter se, as are their progeny to any extent. It may 

 please closet naturalists to classify them^ not knowing how 

 easily they may be bred, and to give them specific names 

 after their friends, which has been done in several instances. 

 But the naming a variety as a new species because it has a 

 slight variation in its plumage, has little interest for practical 

 men. 



In the following pages the more typical breeds will be 

 described, and their numerous varieties treated as allies. 



In commencing the description of the different pheasants 

 adapted to the covert, the common species [Phnsianus col- 

 chicus) claims the first place, as it is more generally 

 distributed and better known than any of the more recent 

 introductions. Although not equalling some of them in size, 

 or gorgeousness of plumage, it is by many sportsmen pre- 

 ferred in consequence of its rapid flight and active habits. 

 It is, however, only in the remote districts of the country 

 that it is now to be found in a state of purity, as the intro- 

 duction of the Chinese and Japanese races has given rise 

 to so many cross-bred varieties that in many districts a purely- 

 bred P. colchicus is a rarity. 



Lord Lilford, in " The Birds of Northamptonshire," writing 

 -of the common pheasant, says : — " Although it is now difficult 

 to find pure-bred specimens of this species, on account of 

 the frequent crossings with the Chinese Ring-necked Pheasant 

 (P. torquatus) and other species, we do occasionally meet with 

 birds, especially in the large woodlands of the northern 

 division of Northamptonshire, Avhich, by their small size, 

 the absence of any trace of the white collar, which is so 

 conspicuous in the Chinese bird, and the intense blackness 

 of the plumage of the lower belly, present the characteristics 

 of the true unadulterated species.'^ 



