THE GOLDEN PHEASANT. 205 



over a tippet formed of broad flat feathers, which are of a 

 deep orange colour, with dark blue bars across the tips ; these 

 latter form, when the feathers are in position, a series of 

 horizontal lines across the tippet. Dui-ing the courtship of 

 the female this collar or tippet is brought over to the side 

 nearest the hen, as shown in the background of the 

 engraving of this species; the late Mr. T. W. Wood paid 

 more attention to the amatory displays of birds than any other 

 writer. Respecting that of the Golden Pheasant he writes : 

 " Not the least remarkable example of the lateral mode of 

 display during courtship is that of the Golden Pheasant,, 

 whose elegant form and brilliant colouring are so well known 

 in this country. The male runs very playfully after the 

 female, and placing himself in front of her, quickly expands 

 his collar, bringing neariy the whole of it round to the side 

 where it is to be exhibited, and thereby presenting to view a 

 flat disc of bright orange-red, banded with perfect regularity 

 by blue-back semicircles ; the hen, on seeing this, frequently 

 runs away pursued by her would-be mate, who generally 

 finds himself placed with his other side towards her, and the 

 collar is accordingly shown on that side. At the moment the 

 full expansion of the collar trikes place, the bird utters a very 

 snake-like hiss, which, according to our notions, would not be 

 very fascinating as a love-song ; the body is very much dis- 

 torted, as is the case with the true pheasants, but the tail is- 

 not spread so much, as the curved, roof-like shape prevents it& 

 forming a flat surface. Slight breaks would occur in the 

 black stripes of the collar when expanded, were it not that 

 each feather has a second black stripe Avhicli is so placed as 

 effectually to prevent this.'' 



Below the tippet on the lower part of the neck the feathers 

 are deep-green margined with velvet black ; below this again 

 are the scapular feathers of a dark crimson ; the back and 

 rump are golden yellow ; the tail itself is very long, the two 

 longest central feathers are covered with small irregular 

 circles of light-brown on a dark ground, giving them a 



