THE ORIENTAL MIGRATION. 257 



the confines of Asia into Greece, Turkey, and 

 Southern Russia. This is Phasianus colchicus. For- 

 merly, however, the Pheasant appears to have had a 

 wider range in Europe, for three species are known 

 fossil from France. Altogether, it is not quite certain 

 whether the Pheasant is not really an indigenous bird 

 in the British Islands, having survived from pre- 

 glacial times. It is believed that the Romans brought 

 it to England, but there is no record of an introduc- 

 tion at that time. 



Among the older Oriental bird migrants might be 

 mentioned the Fire-crested WrQr\(Regutusignicapiltus) y 

 which has even occasionally visited England. It be- 

 comes commoner as we go south-eastward. In Asia 

 Minor it is more abundant than the Gold-crest ; and 

 throughout the year it is resident in Southern Europe, 

 where it occurs in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, 

 Sardinia, and Malta. On the opposite shore, in 

 North-west Africa, it again makes its appearance, 

 and its range extends westward to the Canaries (R. 

 teneriffa) and Madeira (R. maderensis). 



The genus to which our common Goldfinch belongs, 

 viz., Carduelis, is also probably of Oriental origin, and 

 may be looked upon as one of the earlier migrants. 

 That species (C. elegans) breeds throughout Europe, 

 except in the extreme north, but it is especially 

 abundant in Southern Europe and North-west Africa. 

 It is also resident in Madeira and the Canaries. 

 Eastward its range extends to Persia. A larger 

 race (C. major) inhabits Western Siberia and crosses 



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