C^^ f ^ ,y / 



SILVER PHEASANT.— Ga??o;)7wii« Xycthemerics. 



GOLDEN PHEASANT. — r/tfr?(OTc;iia 2ncia. 



number, and one feels a natural sensation of repugnance to the killing of so beautiful a 

 bird merely for the sake of eating it. As it is a tolerably hardy bird, bearing confine- 

 ment well, and breeding freely, especially in the southern parts of England, it has been 

 turned out into preserves with the common Pheasant, but as yet without sufficient success 

 to warrant the continuation of the experiments. 



This bird, together with another which will be briefly mentioned, is remarkable for 

 the large ruff of broad squared feathers which folds round its neck, as well as for the 

 finely developed crest. This crest is of rich golden yellow with a tinge of carmine. The 

 feathers of the ruff are squared, and disposed in a scale-like fashion ; their colour is 

 rich orange edged with velvety black. The whole ruff can be raised or depressed at 

 will, riy-fishers hold the crest and ruff of this bird in great value, as many of their 

 best artificial baits owe their chief beauty to the Golden Pheasant. Just below the ruff 

 comes a patch of scale-like rounded feathers of dark glossy green, over which the ends 

 of the ruff feathers play as the bird moves its head, and below them the back is wholly 

 of a bright golden yellow, enriched on the upper tail-coverts by a crimson edging. The 

 primary and secondary feathers of the wings are rich brown barred with chestnut, and 

 their bases are deep blue. The breast and abdomen are brightest scarlet, and the tail 

 is rich chestnut mottled with black. The eye is bright, glancing, and of a whitish 

 yellow. 



These magnificent colours only belong to the male bird, the female being reddish 

 brown, spotted and marked with a darker hue, and the tail is short. 



