224 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN 



regarded as a valuable and rare addition to zoological collections, and the members of the 

 American Expedition to Japan are the first of any cultivated nation who have seen this bird in 

 its native haunts. Knowing the high interest of all the information possible to be given in 

 relation to this bird, Mr. Heine has had the kindness to furnish for our present article the fol- 

 lowing highly valuable and beautiful sketch : 



" 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 pheasant now before us. 



"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 4,000 to 5,000 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 

 undergrowth 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 gulley, 

 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 stooping 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 pro- 

 ceeded 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 wbich 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 suc- 

 ceeded 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 some shrubs, I could 

 indulge in quietly observing him and his family. On a small sandy patch was an adult cock 

 and three hens busily engaged 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. At other moments again, when the sun broke forth for a short time, all 

 stretched themselves in the golden rays, and rolling in the sand shook the morning dew from 

 their fine plumage. It was a beautiful sight, and I looked upon it with exceeding pleasure ; so 

 much, indeed, that I could not find the heart to destroy this little scene of domestic happiness 



