A TA VI SM OR RE VERSION. 149 



Hunter 1 recorded some examples of this ; the following 

 is one of them : 



" Lady Tynte had a favourite pyed pea-hen which had 

 produced chickens eight several times. Having moulted 

 when about eleven years old, the lady and family were 

 astonished by her displaying the feathers peculiar to the 

 other sex, and appeared like a pyed peacock. In this 

 process the tail, which became like that of a cock, first 

 made its appearance after moulting ; and in the following 

 year, having moulted again, produced similar feathers. 

 In the third year she did the same ; and, in addition, 

 had spurs resembling those of a cock. She never bred 

 after this change in her plumage, and died in the 

 following winter during the hard frost, in the year 



1775-6." 



The change here described, and now seen in a 

 large number of birds indeed, I know of no game- 

 keeper of experience who has not seen such speci- 

 mens has been shown conclusively to be associated 

 with atrophy or non-development of the ovary. 

 The best marked case that has come under my 

 observation occurred in a hen golden pheasant I 

 watched the bird for two years. She presented the 

 resplendent dress of the cock, but her plumage 

 was not quite so brilliant, had no spurs, and the iris 

 was not encircled by the ring of white so conspicuous 

 in the male. Coincident with the change of plumage 

 she ceased to lay eggs. After this transformation she 

 lived happily with her mate for two years, and in spite 



1 An Account of an Extraordinary Hen Pheasant (" Observation 

 on the Animal (Economy "). 



