PHEASANTS 73 
Family: Phasianide. (b) Subfamily: Phasitamine—Pheasants. 
147. Pheasant [Phasianus colchicus Linnzus]. 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. 
Figgs. Usually 8-14. Olive-brown. Rarely pale blue. Av. 
size, 1°81x141in. Laying begins April-May. One brood. 
148. Partridge, grey-partridge [Perdix perdix perdix (Lin- 
neeus) ; Perdix cinerea Latham]. ident and stationary except 
for irregular local movements. ‘Local in Scotland. 
Bird. Length 12} 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. MHorse-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. 
iggs. Usually 10-20. Olive-brown to greyish-olive. Rarely 
blue. Av. size, 138x105 in. Laying Seatah in April—May. 
One brood. 
149. Redlegged-partridge, French-partridge [Caccabis rufa 
seat esti de Introduced species, resident in England 
and Wales. 
