PLATE LIII 



TARIM PHEASANT 



Phasianus colchicus tarimensts Pleske 



In the poplar forests along the Tarim River these birds live in covies, depending on berries for 

 food during the hard winters and often compelled to roost on the slight branches of the poplars to 

 avoid their enemies on the ground. Besides the foxes and smaller vermin, they look down from their 

 perch upon troops of wild pig and wild camels, which pad sofdy over the sand, while overhead flocks 

 of wild geese drive northward almost before the ice breaks from the river and pools. 



