PHASIANUS. 205 



ground. Eggs 6-15, 2.19 X 1-48, varying from pale olive-buff to light olive-greenish, 

 speckled, sprinkled, or spotted with deep brown. Hab. Artemisia or " sage-brush" 

 plains of the Kocky Mountain plateau, north into British America, south to New 

 Mexico, Utah, and Nevada 309. C. urophasianus (BONAP.). Sage Grouse. 



FAMILY PHASIANID^. THE PHEASANTS, TURKEYS, ETC. (Page 184.) 



Genera. 



a 1 . Head feathered, except sometimes on sides (around eyes) ; tail lengthened, 

 graduated, and vaulted, the feathers usually tapering to a point; plumage 

 of sexes entirely different, the female much smaller than the male, and with- 

 out brilliant coloring. (Subfamily Phasianince.)... Phasianus. (Page 205.) 



2 . Head naked, the skin wrinkled and warted, the forehead with more or less con- 

 spicuous extensile appendage (smaller in females) ; tail moderately length- 

 ened, rounded, not vaulted, the feathers broad and nearly truncated at tips ; 

 plumage of sexes essentially alike, but females duller in color than males. 

 (Subfamily Meleagrince.') Meleagris. (Page 206.) 



GENUS PHASIANUS LINNAEUS.' (Page 205.) 



Species. 



COMMON CHARACTERS. Form elegant, carriage graceful, and plumage hand- 

 some (that of the male exquisite). Adult males : Adorned with rich metallic colors, 

 variegated by handsome markings or pencillings. Adult females : Brownish, more 

 or less mottled, spotted, and otherwise varied with dusky, the lower parts, however, 

 chiefly plain buffy brownish. 



a 1 . Adult males with neck metallic greenish or bluish ; sides of occiput with a more 

 or less conspicuous tuft of elongated feathers. Adult females with all the 

 tail-feathers barred, for their whole length, with blackish and whitish on a 

 mottled brownish ground. 



b l . Adult males with breast (sometimes sides and flanks also) rich coppery chest- 

 nut, with metallic purple and coppery reflections. 



c 1 . Adult male without white on neck ; length about 2 feet, wing 9.50-10.50 

 inches, tail 17.50-20.00. Adult female : Length about 20.00-24.00, 

 wing 8.50, tail 11.00-12.00. Young male : Similar to adult female. 

 Downy young : " Sides of head, throat, and under parts, yellowish 

 white; forehead dull rusty yellowish, with a dark brown central 

 stripe, which broadens towards the nape ; behind the ear is a black 

 spot ; upper parts generally yellowish, variegated with rusty red 

 and brown, and with blackish brown stripes." (DRESSER.) Hab. 



1 Phasianus LiKN., S. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 158. Type, P. colchicut LINN. 



