PHEASANTS 
FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 
CHAPTER I. 
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PHEASANTS. 
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. mi HABITS, FOOD, STRUCTURE, ETC. 
s a ro )HE PHEASANTS, properly so called (as distinguished from the allied 
foe ak but perfectly distinct groups which include the Gold and Silver 
ae #) 4 pheasants, the Kaleege, the Monaul, &c.) constitute the genus 
= yee ’ : “y2 or group known to naturalists under the title Phasianus. Of 
: ons “) the true pheasants no less than thirteen distinct species have 
X VARS Vl been described by the most recent writer on the subject, Mr. 
> Cr D. G. Elliot, in his magnificent monograph on the Phasianide. 
Of these several are known only by rare specimens of their skins 
\ brought from scarcely explored Asiatic countries, and others cannot be 
regarded as anything more than mere local or geographical varieties of well 
a 
known species. 
Without including, however, such birds as have, from their rarity or other 
causes, no practical interest to English game preservers, there remain several well 
known species that will require our careful consideration. Such are: The common 
pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), now generally diffused throughout southern and 
central Europe; the Chinese (P. torquatus); the Japanese (P. versicolor); the 
Reeves (P. Reevesii); and the Scmmerring (P. Semmerringii). These, however, 
are so closely related in their structure, form, and habits, that their natural history 
and general management may be given once for all, and their distinctive pecu- 
liarities pointed out subsequently. 
The pheasants constituting the genus Phasianus are readily distinguished by 
their extremely elongated tail feathers, which attain their maximum development in 
B 
