19 



THE PHEASANT.* 



Phasianus Colchicus, Linn. 



Is common in various wooded parts of the island, where it has 

 been preserved and protected. 



This species being neither an indigenous one, nor a visitant to Ireland 

 in a wild state, but having certainly been introduced, is therefore dis- 

 entitled to receive the honours of ordinary type. The period of its 

 introduction is unknown to me; but in the year 1589 it was remarked 

 to be common. f Eynes Moryson, who was in Ireland from 1599 till 

 1603, observes that there are "such plenty of pheasants, as I have 

 known sixty served up at one feast, and abound much more with rails, 

 but partridges are somewhat scarce." vol. ii. p. 368. Smith seems to 

 have imagined that pheasants were indigenous to the island, as in his 

 History of Cork, it is remarked — "They are now [1749] indeed very 

 rare, most of our woods being cut down." 



In the counties of Antrim and Down, the ring-necked variety — 

 considered to have originally proceeded from a cross-breed between the 

 common and true ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus torquatus, Temm.) 

 — is not uncommon. Individuals much pied with white are also not 

 unfrequently met with. In the middle of February 1845, an extremely 

 beautiful pied pheasant, with much white in its plumage, bred in the 

 woods at Glenarm Park, was found at the edge of a plantation 

 there in a weak state, by Edmund Mc Donnell, Esq. Soon after 

 being taken to the house it died, in consequence (as proved by dissec- 

 tion) of having partaken of poisoned food, of which some had been 

 laid for rats. This bird was in the highest condition as to flesh 

 and plumage ; it was kindly presented to the Belfast Museum by the 

 gentleman just named. By tie same considerate donor, a more 

 remarkable pheasant was presented in Jan. 1849 ; it being not only 

 pied with white, but a female which had partially assumed the plumage 

 of the male. The tail was the most interesting portion ; it having 

 attained the full length of that of the male, while the markings on the 

 two longest feathers, and the three next to them on one side (all that 



* So named from a belief that it was brought from the banks of the Phasis, a 

 river of ancient Colchis. 



f See note given under Quail. 



c2 



