64 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



silvery white, traversed with the greatest regularity by 

 an infinite number of finely pencilled black lines pass- 

 ing obliquely, in the form of chevrons, across the 

 feathers. A striking contrast to this delicacy of tint 

 is afforded by the uniform purplish black of the fore 

 part of the neck, breast, and under surface of the body. 

 The two long tail-feathers are perfectly white in their 

 extreme half; the iris is of a brownish orange ; the bill 

 yellowish, but becoming dusky towards the point ; the 

 legs deep red ; and the spurs long, sharp, and white. 

 In the female the red of the cheeks is much less exten- 

 sive ; the top of the head has a kind of crest of a dusky 

 brown; the neck, breast, and upper surface are of an 

 earthy brown ; the lower parts of a dingy white, with a 

 mixture of brown, and crossed by blackish bands ; the 

 quill-feathers of the wings are nearly black ; and the 

 tail variegated with black, white, and brown. 



This elegant species inhabits the north of China, 

 whence it has been imported into Europe. It thrives 

 even better in domestication than the Common Phea- 

 sant of our woods, and breeds with tolerable facility ; 

 so that it might in all jjrobability be readily propagated 

 in the open country. We believe that this has been in 

 some instances attempted with success. 



