304 The Fowl-like Birds 



They are highly esteemed for food, and during the migrations, particularly in 

 fall, they are netted by thousands for market. This species has on several 

 occasions been introduced into the United States, but has not thus far been 

 established, as it probably migrates out into the Atlantic and becomes lost. 



The Pheasants, Fowls, and Peacocks (Subfamily Phasianina}. The 

 Pheasants as here restricted comprise over twenty genera and upwards of 

 one hundred species of for the most part large and elegantly plumaged birds. 

 As already pointed out, the present group is not at all sharply differentiated from 

 the last ; indeed, many authorities unite the so-called Perdicina directly with the 

 Phasianintf, but it seems as well to keep them separate. As offering in some 

 respects a transition between the two groups, mention may be made of the little 

 Pheasant-Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa), a rare species of the northwestern por- 

 tions of India. In size it agrees closely with the Common Quail (Coturnix), 

 being among the smallest of the group, but has the long, soft plumage of the 

 Blood Pheasants, and is doubtless most nearly related to them. In addition it 

 has a relatively long, wedge-shaped tail of only ten feathers and a different plu- 

 mage in the two sexes, the male being largely gray with the feathers edged with 

 black, while the sides of the head, throat, and chin are black with white bands; 

 the female is mostly brown with black shaft-stripes, and has a black band on 

 either side of the crown and a whitish throat. This is still one of the rarest Indian 

 birds, being generally met with in small coveys of from six to ten birds, and cling- 

 ing persistently to the long grass cover, where their presence might be unsuspected 

 but for their soft Quail-like notes; they feed entirely upon seeds of grasses. Their 

 nests and eggs appear unknown. 



The Blood Pheasants (Ithaginis} are much larger, attaining a length of from 

 fifteen to nearly eighteen inches, the three known species being confined to Tibet 

 and western China. The plumage, the prevailing color of which in the males is 

 a peculiar grass-green, is long and soft, and the male is provided with a full crest 

 and has the body-feathers pointed. The male has the feet armed with two or 

 more pairs of spurs, which are represented by a pair of blunt knobs in the female. 

 In the best-known species (/. cruentns) of the higher Himalayas and Tibet, the 

 male is gray above with the wings more or less green, as are the lower parts, 

 the chin, throat, cheeks, and entire tail-coverts being crimson, and the feathers of 

 the breast edged with the same. The female, which is much smaller than the 

 male, is pale brown above and reddish brown below, mottled throughout with 

 darker; in both the naked skin around the eyes and the feet are coral-red. They 

 are found at elevations of from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, frequenting especially the 

 forests of pine and juniper, upon the berries and seeds of which they largely feed 

 during the winter, but at other seasons on wild fruit, seeds, grass, and insects. 

 They are fearless and rather stupid birds, enjoying but feeble powers of flight, 

 usually preferring to escape by running rather than take to wing. They are 

 found in coveys of twenty or thirty or in winter often in great flocks, and if 

 they become separated, as when hunted, begin at once calling sharply to bring 

 the scattered members together. After feeding on berries and fruits they are 

 considered good eating, but in winter the flesh acquires a strong flavor of juniper 



