58 



Four or five brace of tliem in a mixed bag is 

 considered extra luck; still I have killed within 

 tlie space of two liundred yards three couple, each 

 bird flushing singly and apart. About midday we 

 reached a Chinese village, imbedded in trees, witli a 

 considerable cover lying backward from it. After 

 lunch Ave beat it, and three splendid pheasants were 

 our reward. The pheasant of southern China is 

 truly a regal bird in comparison with our home-bred 

 introduction. They weigh one-half more, and their 

 flight is so rapid, that if the sportsman, in a cross 

 shot, does not shoot well ahead, his game bag will 

 long be kept ignorant of tlieir weight and dimen- 

 sions. Two or three times during the day I was 

 frightfully fooled. The dogs were standing stiff as 

 a fence-rail, and, of course, something extra was 

 justly expected, when, what do you think ? a bird 

 that feeds on snakes and lizards, lumbering in 

 flight, and of gross plumage, was flushed. In the 

 south of China, this species is known as the crow 

 pheasant, his size and long tail having doubtlessly 

 gained the latter portion of the appellation ; but on 

 inspection, no one can help wondering at the indig- 

 nity the bird of Colchis has suffered in having such 

 a brute bear liis patronymic. For my own part, I 



