414 Geographical Distribution of the True Pheasants. 



provinces of Pe-che-li (Chji-li), Shausi, the south-eastern 

 part of Shcnsi, the western part of Honan, the northern part 

 of Hoope, and the north-eastern part of Sze-chuan. It does 

 not extend into Western Sze-chuan, but on the other side of 

 the Yang-tsi-kiang it ranges to Kiu-kiang. 



This short revision of the genus Phasianus is intended to 

 prove that all the species have very limited ranges, as indeed is 

 only natural in such variable and sedentary birds, and that 

 they are more or less differentiated into true species or 

 geographical subspecies, and are not merely climatic or local 

 varieties that frequently merge into one another, as one would 

 be apt to think on studying semi-domesticated mongrels. 

 Furthermore it may shew that too often the areas of these 

 species are not sufficiently known, and that this ignorance is 

 only the natural consequence of a long-prevailing practice 

 of lumping together closely allied, and sometimes even per- 

 fectly different, forms under one name, and of considering 

 as " well known " and " not worth collecting " such forms of 

 animals, though our knowledge of them is really very scanty. 



I wish to express my warmest thanks to all who have 

 helped me in preparing this article, namely, Mr. S. N. 

 Alpheraky, of St. Petersburg, for the loan of specimens and 

 printed works and for many friendly counsels ; Dr. V. L. 

 Bianchi, of the Museum of the Academy of St. Petersburg, 

 for most kindly helping me and Mrs. Wera V. Buturlin in 

 our studies of specimens and literature; Dr. Ernst Hartert, 

 of Triug, for kindly comparing my specimens with typical 

 specimens ; Capt. A. W. Karpow, of Manchooria, for sending 

 me specimens and interesting notes ; Mr. Th. C. Lorenz, of 

 Moscow, for some importaut notes ; Baron H. v. Loudon for 

 kindly bringing me for inspection numerous specimens from 

 his Museum ; the Hon. Walter Rothschild for kindly com- 

 paring my skins with types in the Tring Museum ; and last, 

 but not least, Prof. V. V. Zalensky, Director of the Museum 

 of the Academy of St. Petersburg, for granting me access 

 to the rich collections under his care. 



Wesenberg, Esthonia, Russia, 

 April 17th, 1904. 



