116 DR. p. L. SCLATER ON THE [April 21, 



2. PucRASiA CASTANEA. (Westcrii Pucras.) 



Pucrasia castanea, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 99 ; B. Asia, pt. G. 

 Hab. Kafiristan (^Griffith). 



3. Pucrasia nipalensis. (Nepalese Pucras.) 



Pucrasia nipalensis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 100 ; B. Asia, pt. 6. 

 Hab. Bhotan. 



Genus 3. Phasianus, Linn. 



Range. — Palsearctic Region, from Europe to Japan, and one aber- 

 rant species on southern slopes of the Himalayas. 



Sect. A. Phasianus. 



1. Phasianus colchicus. (Common Pheasant.) 



Phasianus colchicus, Linn. 



Hab. Shores of the Caspian, where diffused over Western Asia 

 and Europe. 



2. Phasianus TORauAXUS. (Chinese Pheasant.) 



Phasianus torquatus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 742 ; Gould, Birds of Asia, 

 pt. 7.pl. 1. 



Hab, Eastern Asia, from Transbaikalia, through Amoorland, into 

 Southern China {Schrenck, Amur-Reise, i. p. 404). 



Very common in the flat cotton-country round Shanghai ; and a 

 hill-bird in Southern China, where less common. Believed to have 

 been seen in captivity near Pekin ; but not met with there in a wild 

 state {Swinhoe). 



The Formosan bird varies a little in plumage from Chinese speci- 

 mens as noted by Mr. Swinhoe (Ibis, 1863, pt. 4). 



3. Phasianus mongolicus. (Mongolian Pheasant.) 



Phasianus mongolicus, Brandt: Gould, B. Asia, pt. 10. pi. 1. 



Hab. Altai and Tarbagatai Mountains, and probably the adjoining 

 parts of Mongolia. 



Herr v. Schrenck has shown (Amur-Reise, p. 403) that Prof. 

 Brandt was in error in considering this bird as the P. colchicus, var. 

 mongolica, of Pallas, — Pallas' s bird being doubtless the Phasianus 

 torquatus, which is the only species met with in Amoorland. The 

 P. mongolica of Brandt appears to be a more western species, from 

 the Altai and Tarbagatai Mountains. Mr. Gould speaks of an 

 example killed near Semipalatinsk, which is on the Irtisch, in 

 80° E. Ion. The interposition of this distinct species between the 

 closely allied P. colchicus and P. torquatus is very singular. 



4. Phasianus versicolor. (Japanese Pheasant,) 



Phasianus versicolor, Vieill. : Gould, B. Asia, pt. 9. pi. 1 ; Temm. 

 PI. Col. 486, 493. 



Hab. Japan, Niphon {Heine, in Perry's Japan Exp. Zool. ii. 

 p. 224): doubtful if extending into Jesso {Blahiston, Ibis, 1862, 

 p. 329). 



