CHAPTER XVII. 
PHEASANTS ADAPTED FOR THE AVIARY (OONTINUED). 
THE SILVER PHEASANT (2UPLOCAUWUS NYCTHEMERUS) AND 
\ Os, ALLIED SPECIES. 
\ S> NDER the name of Huplocamus mnycthemerus the Silver 
Pheasant has been known to naturalists since the time of 
Linneeus. In the earlier works on natural history, such as 
that of Albin, published in 1738, and Edwards, in 1751, it was 
termed the Black and White Chinese Pheasant, which name was 
employed by Buffon; it was also termed the Pencilled and 
Lineated Pheasant, and by Temminck, the Faisan bicolor. 
Its native locality was first definitely ascertained by Consul 
Swinhoe, who informs us that it inhabits the wooded hills in the 
interior of southern China. Writing to Mr. Elliot, he states :—“This bird is known 
to the Chinese as the Pih Heen, and it is one of those which are embroidered upon 
the heart-and-back badges of the official dresses of the civil mandarins to denote 
the rank of the wearers. So far as I have ascertained, it is found in the wooded 
mountains of the following provinces :—Fokein, Canton, Kwangse, and Kweichou. 
It is brought to Canton city from the province of Kwangse by the west river, and 
offered alive in the shops for sale. All the birds I have seen so offered have been 
captured; I do not think the Chinese had the bird in confinement‘ A friend 
of mine shot one in some woods, in the mountains about 100 miles from Amoy 
(Province Fokein), but I have never met with the species in my rambles.” 
From their large size, commanding appearance, and the beauty of the markings, 
Silver Pheasants have long been favourites in our aviaries. They have the additional 
recommendation of being exceedingly hardy, of laying freely in captivity, and of 
being easy to rear when young. ‘They also become perfectly tame, feeding freely 
from the hand. These birds could be readily domesticated, if it were thought 
desirable to do so. I have known several instances where they have been allowed 
to run at full liberty, and have seen the birds sufficiently tame to come and stand 
before a window, waiting for their accustomed treat at the hands of the members 
