184 PHEA.SAXT. 



white male and a female of the proper colour; their descendants 

 in the following year were only white or pied, and the varieties 

 went on year after year. Doubtless in many cases the 

 destruction of the old birds, signalled out for their very 

 markings, is the reason of the non-production of other such; 

 'ex nihilo nihil fit.' 



The King-necked specimens are rather lighter-plumaged than 

 the Ringless. One variety, by no means uncommon, especially 

 in the female, is entirely white, and even the bill and legs. 

 One had a single coloured feather under the throat; another, 

 one or two only on the shoulders; a hen bird in the cock's 

 plumage, even the white ring round the back and sides of the 

 neck, is another. Individuals more or less mottled, patched, 

 and speckled with white are by no means unfrequent. A 

 variety called the Bohemian Pheasant is of a stone-colour, 

 with the usual markings. Cream-coloured ones are also met 

 with. One is mentioned by G. B. Clarke, Esq., in 'The 

 Naturalist,' volume ii., page 182, which had a silvery appearance 

 when the sun shone on it, and the tail was of a darker colour 

 than usual: it was shot in Woburn Park. 



The hen bird sometimes partially assumes the plumage of 

 the cock, and in these cases says Yarrell, 'they may be known 

 by their partial want of brilliancy of tint; the golden-red 

 feathers on the breast generally want the contrast of the 

 broad dark velvet-like margin; the legs and feet retaining their 

 smaller and more slender female character, and are without 

 spurs.' 



Hybrids have occurred from alliances with the Common 

 Fowl, the Black Grouse, the Turkey, the Guinea Fowl, the 

 Golden Pheasant, and the Silver Pheasant. 



