PHOTOGRAVURE 47 



MONGOLIAN PHEASANT 



Phasianus colchicus mongolims Brandt 



ZERAFSHAN PHEASANT 



Phasiamts colchicus zerafshanicus TarnovskI 



TARIM PHEASANT 



Phasianus colchicus tarimensis Pleske 



The wildest and bleakest river basins of central Asia are Inhabited by pheasants. Now and then 

 a ragged caravan passes, hastening across the deserts from one source of water supply to the next, a 

 line of camels bearing tea or grain. When the rivers are In flood and spread out across the deserts, 

 the birds wander far, and roost at night among the ruins of half-buried and wholly forgotten cities. 

 Rarely an explorer makes his way through, mapping the valleys, shooting a few specimens, and passing 

 on never to return. 



