PHASIANID.E. 311 



met with in any poulterer's shop, to need any de- 

 scription. I would merely say that the present 

 species, Phasianus colchicus, has no white whatever 

 in its plumage, and that all the white and pied birds 

 so constantly met with are merely chance varieties, 

 or the effect of some cross, probably with the next- 

 mentioned species. The buff or cream-coloured 

 variety, often called the " Bohemian Pheasant," to 

 which name it has no more right than Shakspere to 

 his "sea coast of Bohemia," is a rather curious 

 variety, all the markings of the feathers being visible, 

 but all very pale and faint, and the same buff hue 

 pervading the whole bird, except the neck, which 

 retains the original green, but even that is paler and 

 not so glossy : this variety appears to occur both to 

 the present and the Ringnecked species. Very old 

 hens, and hens which (either from accident or mal- 

 formation) are incapable of breeding, often assume a 

 plumage nearly similar to that of the male. 



The egg is of a perfectly plain colour, without any 

 spots a sort of pale olive. 



RINGNECKED PHEASANT, Phasianus torquatus. This 

 appears to be a distinct species, and to inhabit a 

 different tract of country. Cuvier says of it, " China 

 has lately furnished us with three other species, one 

 of these, Phasianus torquatus, scarcely differs from 

 the common species, except in having a brilliant 

 white spot on the side of the neck." Yarrell and 

 Montagu both appear to consider this a distinct 



