272 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



the wide purple bars on the flanks, and in the orange-red upper 

 tail coverts. Mr. Rothschild gives it a good character for im- 

 portation, and those who have shot it at home speak of it as 

 almost aquatic in habit, and not only able but willing to swim. 



The Zorasthan pheasant, or Phasianns zerasthanicus, only 

 differs slightly in marking from the above-named variety that 

 is to say, it has plain brown scapulars, and much narrower 

 borders to the breast feathers. 



The Yarkand pheasant, or Ph. shawi, differs from colchicus in 

 having a yellowish-brown rump and whitish wing coverts. Mr. 

 Rothschild recommends its importation via India for our 

 English coverts. 



The Siberian pheasant, or Ph. tariminsis, very closely 

 resembles the last-named variety, but differs in the greenish 

 rump and the buff wing coverts. 



The Oxus pheasant, or Ph. chrysomelas> comes from Amu- 

 Darya. It is distinguished for its general sandy-brown colour 

 and the very broad green bars on all feathers of the under side of 

 the body. 



The Mongolian pheasant has been introduced largely by 

 reason of Mr. Rothschild's recommendation. It is known from all 

 the others by the rich red of the flanks, the green gloss of the 

 plumage, the very broad white neck ring and white wings. It 

 is a very large bird. There is one point on which it is open to 

 doubt whether this bird has not met more than its meed of 

 praise. It is considerably heavier than the common pheasant, 

 and is said to fly better. But the last statement is a little 

 difficult to accept, for the bird is not like the Reeves pheasant, 

 different in feathers, structure, and proportion of wing to weight. 

 It is merely a very big common pheasant differently coloured 

 and having everything in true proportion. It ought therefore, 

 by reason of its weight, to fly worse than lighter birds. For big 

 birds to fly as fast as small ones they require not only the same 

 proportionate wing power and space, but greater. 



Stone's pheasant, or Ph. elegans, is almost a green bird, like 

 versicolor, except upon the flanks and shoulders. It is not 

 well known. 



