PHEASANTS 73 



Family: Phasianidce. (b) Subfamily: Phasianince Pheasants. 



147. Pheasant [Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus]. Semi- 

 domesticated and stationary. Local in Scotland. 



Bird. Length 35 in., the female with a much shorter tail. 

 No seasonal change. The female is easily distinguished from 

 the male by her general sandy-brown coloration, marked black, 

 with a reddish-brown or chestnut tinge on the mantle, flanks, 

 and tail-feathers. The most conspicuous features of the male 

 are the dark green-purple glossed head and neck, the long 

 reddish-buff tail barred black, the bare red cheeks, and the 

 general tawny-reddish hue of the plumage. The fledglings are 

 not unlike the female, but duller. 



Nest. Usually on the ground, in rough tangle, or under 

 bushes ; in a hedge, wood, or ditch-side. Occasionally in trees. 

 The scrape is scantily lined with leaves, grass, &c. 



Eggs. Usually 8-14. Olive-brown. Rarely pale blue. Av. 

 size, 1*81 x 1*41 in. Laying begins April-May. One brood. 



148. Partridge, grey-partridge [Perdix perdix perdix (Lin- 

 naeus) ; Perdix cinerea Latham]. Resident and stationary except 

 for irregular local movements. Local in Scotland. 



Bird, Length 12 J in. The male in breeding plumage 

 (Sept.- June) is mostly tawny-chestnut on the head and throat, 

 a brownish -buff on the upper-parts, with close wavy cross-lines 

 of black. The breast and flanks are grey, finely marked with 

 black. On the flanks broad chestnut bars. A large horse-shoe 

 shaped chestnut patch on the lower breast. From June-Sept, 

 the male has the neck brown, with buff and black streaks, and 

 the throat paler. In this plumage it may be distinguished 

 from young birds by the rounded tip of the outermost primary. 

 The female may always be distinguished by the black wing- 

 coverts, with wavy buff cross-bars, which she has in addition to 

 the buff shaft streaks of the male. Horse-shoe smaller or 

 wanting. Till May she has the head and neck brown, streaked 

 buff; from May-Sept, the neck becomes darker. The fledgling 

 has buff cross-bars on the wing -coverts, like the female. 



Nest. Usually on the ground, in a hedge -row, in mixed 

 tangle, under a bush, in bracken, and similar places. The 

 scrape is lined with dead leaves and grass, which may be 

 placed over the eggs, when left. 



Eggs. Usually 10-20. Olive-brown to greyish-olive. Rarely 

 blue. A v. size, '1-38 x 1*05 in. Laying begins in April-May. 

 One brood. 



149. Redlegged-partridge, French-partridge [Caccabis rufa 

 rufa (Linnseus)]. Introduced species, resident in England 

 and Wales. 



