THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



Phasiams torqvatus. Temm. 



Two beautiful species of Pheasant, for which our avia- 

 ries have been indebted to China, have been aheady 

 figured at pages 59 and 63 ; and we now add a repre- 

 sentation of a third, long since introduced into Europe 

 from the same country, but the specific distinction of 

 which from the Common Pheasant naturalized in our 

 woods has been doubted by those who have seen it 

 only in a domesticated, or perhaps a hybrid, state. 

 M. Temminck, however, assures us that the original 

 Chinese bird is perfectly distinct, differing from the 

 Common Pheasant in many essential particulars ; al- 

 though the near affinity of the two races has given rise 

 to the propagation of a hybrid breed, in which the 

 characters of both are blended. 



According to the author just quoted, the size of the 

 Ring-necked Pheasant is always less, the expanse of 

 its wings smaller, and its tail shorter in comparison. 



