yo A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



a blackish, subterminal band as well ; black markings on outer secondaries very- 

 coarse ; primaries barely edged with brown. Chin and throat white ; breast sandy 

 brown, with whitish centres to the feathers, giving a streaked appearance. This area 

 increases posteriorly, so that the abdomen appears whitish, coarsely but indistinctly 

 cross-barred with pale brown. The tail is the most striking part of the bird, and, 

 except for its veiy small size, closely resembles the tail of the adult hen. There are 

 eight pairs of rectrices, averaging a full third shorter than those of the hen. The 

 outer six pairs are clearly patterned in black and white ; a black background, with 

 from six to twelve wide white cross-bars ; a brownish border mottling appears on 

 the third pair, which on the second almost eclipses the cross-barring; the central 

 pair is cinnamon brown, obliquely vermiculated with black. The longest tail-feather 

 measures 200 mm.; wing, 170; bill from nostril, 9. 



First Year Male. — Similar to the female, but without the ventral markings, 

 the lower surfaces being almost uniform buffy brown. 



The sequence of moults varies greatly in individuals, but in American-reared 

 birds the young males change into the plumage of the adult male, and thence, in 

 April of the second year, begin to acquire adult male characters. 



EARLY HISTORY 



As long ago as 1740, Eleazer Albin gave a plate and a quaint description of the 

 White China Pheasants, of which he says: "This bird I saw at a Lady's at Enfield 

 where I made a drawing from it. I do not find this bird described in any author." 

 Seven years later George Edwards enlarges on this, and gives a plate fairly accurate, 

 at least in form, of the Black and White Chinese Pheasant. His comments are as 

 follows: ''These curious birds were kept many years by Sir Hans Sloans, at his 

 house in London, where they hatched young ones and brought them to maturity." 

 He criticizes Albin's figure, and says that in return for his corrections and additions 



he hopes "the curious will not think my labour lost " It is probable that he 



only saw this bird in a yard walking, and took his sketch from it there, so he could 

 not be so particular as I had the opportunity of being ; these birds being the property 

 of my good patron, whose house I frequented ; and had opportunity often to repair 

 my draughts by strictly examining them in their minute parts, not only while they 

 were living, but after they were dead." 



In 1766 Linnaeus gave it the specific name which it bears to-day. 



SYNONYMY 



White China Pheasant Albin, Nat. Hist. Birds, HL 1740, p. 35, pi. XXXVH. 



Black and White Chinese Pheasant Edw. Nat. Hist. Birds, H. 1747, pi. ^^. 



Phasianus nycthemerus Linnaeus, Sys. Nat. L 1766, p. 272 ; Gmelin, Sys. Nat. L 1788, pt. H. p. 743 ; Latham 

 Ind. Orn. H. 1790, p. 631 ; Bonnat. Tabl. Encycl. M6th. L 1791, p. 187, pi. 89, figs, i and 2 ; Hays, Osterl. Menag 

 1794, p. 13, pis. 13 and 14; Timminck, Pig. et Gall. H. 1813, p. 281, HL 1815, p. 665 ; Vieillot, N. Diet. d'Hist. 

 Nat, XL 1817, p. 40; Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. XL 1819, p. 234-; Griff, ed. Guv. HL 1829, p. 23 ; Less. Traits 

 d'Orn., 1831, p. 495; Schinz, Nat. Abbild. Vog., 1833, P- 248, pi. 95; Jard. Nat. Lib. Orn., IV. 1834, p. 207, pi. 

 XVHL ; Schinz, Nat. Vog., 1853, p. 148, pi. 71. 



Faisan noire et bla?ic de la Chine D'Aubent, PI. Enl. pis., 123, 124; Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois., H. 1771, p. 359- 



Pencilled Pheasant 'Ldithd^m, Gen. Syn., H. 1783, pt. H. p. 719; id. Gen. Hist. VHL 1823, p. 199. 



PPkasianus crawfurdii Grdiy, in Griff, ed. Guv. HL 1829, p. 27 (c^juv.). 



