XXXIII. 

 PHASIANUS COLCHICUS. (linn.) 



Pheasant. 



The Pheasant is too well known to need much description ; 

 it breeds in May and June throughout the country, and lays 

 its eggs upon the ground in woods and plantations, amongst 

 the underwood, under the cut branches of trees, and in the 

 long grass, sometimes, also, in hedge rows, and occasionally 

 in the open fields ; they are from ten to fourteen in number, 

 nearly round, and differing only in the intensity of their 

 colouring. From the near approach of the Pheasant to do- 

 mestication, the eggs are subject to the strange and whimsical 

 forms seen in those of the common fowls. I possess some 

 very remarkable deformities of this kind, obligingly sent me 

 by the Honourable Mrs. Liddell, one, in particular, which is 

 cylindrical, about two inches and a half long, and one inch 

 and a half in diameter. 



