203 



PHEASANT. 



Var. a. 



RING PHEA- 



SANT.. 



T HAVE fcarcea doubt but thefe birds will hereafter become 

 full as plentiful in this kingdom as the Common Pheajant. It 

 is well known that feveral noblemen and gentlemen have turned 

 out many pairs into their neighbouring woods, for the purpofe of 

 breeding. I have heard of feveral being met with at large by the 

 fportfmen in various parts of Kent ; two inftances of this having 

 laft year come under my own infpeftion. 



II. 



IMPEYAN PH. 



Pl. CXIV. 

 Description. 



Lev. Muf. 



T ARGER than a 'Dunghill Fowl: length two ittt. Bill' 

 brown, two inches long, much curved, the upper mandible 

 hanging confiderably over the under, which is hid thereby : round 

 the eye bare, and of a greenifli blue: on the head is an ereft crefl:, 

 confifting of feventeen or eighteen feathers of different llzes, the 

 longed three inches and a half in length ; they confift of little 

 more than fhafts, except at the end, where they are oval, with a 

 fpear-lbaped point : the feathers of the neck are long and loofe, 

 not unlike thofe of a Cotk -, thole of the head and throat are 

 green bronze ; of the m.iddle of the neck purple, with a copper 

 glofs, and the lower part of it a yellow copper bronze j all of them 

 exceedingly brilliant, and changeable in different reflexions of 

 light : the back and wing coverts are rich purple, tipped with 

 green bronze : prime quills black : the under parts of the body, 

 from chin to vent, are dull black, with here and there a greenifh 

 glofs : thighs the fame : the legs feathered below the knees : tail 

 brownifh cinnamon-colour,, with the end duflcy, and rounded in. 

 ihape; thiC feathers fourteen in number;, legs flout, rough, and 



- fcaly 5, 



