100 PHEASANTS ADAPTED FOR THE COVERT, 
«Japan Expedition.” ‘After the treaty of Yokuhama had been concluded, the United 
States squadron proceeded to Simoda. A friendly intercourse with the natives was 
established, and I constantly availed myself of Commodore Perry’s kind permission 
to make additions to our collections in natural history. One morning, at dawn of 
day, I shouldered my gun and landed in search of specimens of birds, and that 
day had the good fortune to see, for the first time, the Versicolor pheasant. The 
province Idza, at the southern extremity of which the port of Simoda is situated, 
forms a long neck of land extending from the island of Niphon, in a southerly 
direction, and is throughout mountainous, some of the mountains being from 4000 
to 5000 feet high, The valleys are highly cultivated, presenting in the spring a 
most luxurious landscape. The tops of the mountains and hills are in some places 
composed of barren rocks, and in others covered with grass and shrubs, producing 
an abundance of small berries. Between those higher regions and the fields below 
the slopes are covered with woods, having, for the greater part, such thick under- 
growth that it is. scarcely possible to penetrate them. Following the beautiful valley, 
at the outlet of which the town of Simoda stands, for about four miles, I came to 
a place where the Simoda creek divides into two branches. Selecting the eastern 
branch, I soon left fields and houses behind me, and ascending through a little 
culley, I emerged from the woods into the barren region. It was yet early in the 
morning ; clouds enveloped the peaks and tops of the hills; the fields and woods were 
silent, and the distant sound of the surf from the seashore far below rather increased 
than lessened the impression of deep solitude made upon me by the strange scenery 
around. 
“The walk and ascent had fatigued me somewhat; I had laid down my gun 
and game-bag, and was just stopping to drink from a little spring that trickled from 
a rock, when, not ten yards from me, a large pheasant arose, with loud rustling noise, 
and before I had recovered my gun, he had disappeared over the brow of a hill. I 
felt somewhat ashamed for allowing myself thus to be taken so completely aback ; 
but, noticing the direction in which he had gone, I proceeded more carefully in pursuit. 
A small stretch of table-land, which I soon reached, was covered with short grass 
and some little clusters of shrubs, with scattered fragments of rocks; and as I heard 
a note which I took to be the crowing of a cock pheasant, at a short distance, I 
availed myself of the excellent cover, and crawling cautiously on my hands and 
knees, I succeeded in approaching him within about fifteen yards. Having the 
advantage of the wind and a foggy atmosphere, and being moreover concealed by 
the rocks and shrubs, I could indulge in quietly observing him and his family. On 
a_ small sandy patch was an adult cock and three hens busy in taking their breakfast, 
which consisted of the berries already mentioned growing hereabouts in abundance. 
From time to time the lord of this little family stopped in his repast and crowed 
his shrill war-cry, which was answered by a rival on another hill at some distance. 
