PARTRIDGE.— Perffix cinereus. 



appearance of having been cut out of tliin flakes of nacre or mother-of-pearl, their 

 shining polished surface, their deep changing hues of azure, metallic green, amethystine 

 purple, and fiery orange, being just like the effect produced by the finest nacre when 

 rightly cut. 



Although possessed of such flashing hues, which are mostly the offspring of a tropical sun, 

 the Inipeyan Pheasant inhabits the cold, snowy regions of the Himalayas, a climate not 

 unlike that of our Scotch mountains. There is, therefore, some hope that we may be able 

 to have this wondrously magnificent bird fairly settled down in the British Islands, for it 

 is hardy enough in this country, breeds without difficulty, and endures our severest frosts 

 wHth impunity. As far as is known, it remains entirely in the higher regions of its native 

 land, and never descends to the plains. The food of this bird consists mostly of bulbous 

 roots, which it digs out of the ground with its peculiarly curved and sharp beak. Even 

 in captivity the Impeyan Pheasant will often indulge in many quaint and grotesque 

 actions, especially towards the pairing time, when all birds like to show themselves off to 

 the best advantage. 



The colouring of this gorgeous bird may be briefly described as follows : The head and 

 throat are of a metallic golden green, and the feathers of the crest are bare shafted for the 

 greater part of their length, and spread at their tips into flattened spatula-shaped ends. 

 The lower part of the neck and top of the back are rich shining purple with green and red 

 reflections, and the feathers are all lancet-shaped. Across the lower part of the back there 

 is a broad band of pure snowy white, and the tail is reddish brown, barred irregularly with 

 a darker hue. The rest of the plumage is deep steely blue. The legs are spurred, and the 

 general form is strong and robust. The female is a very sober-plumaged bird, without the 

 lofty crest or gorgeous colours of her mate. Her feathers are mostly dull brown, mottled 

 with grey and ochry yellow, and there is a broad white patch under the chin and throat. 

 She is also smaller than her mate. 



Of the many members of the Perdicine group, we shall take only five examples, the 

 first of which is the well-known English Paktkidge. 



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