262 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



nests, and the eggs, being so numerous and of a lignt 

 colour, are readily seen, though in some cases the parent 

 birds have the instinct to cover them up with leaves on 

 leaving the nest. The hen birds are so much like the 

 colour of the soil, and lie so close when on the nest, as 

 not to be readily seen, and, moreover, appear sometimes 

 to lose their scent when sitting, so as not to be found by a 

 dog or fox ; yet, when sprung, their nests are at once be- 

 trayed. Most Gallinaceous birds are polygamous, but the 

 Common Partridge, the Red Grouse, and perhaps the 

 Quail, are exceptions, being monogamous, and pairing in 

 spring. 



Family PHASIANIDJE. 

 * Pheasant. Phasinnns colchicus, Linn. 



Introduced, semi-domesticatod, and plentiful, -where artificially reared 

 and preserved. It is, however, now difficult to obtain a pure-bred speci- 

 men, as, throufjh interbreeding with F. torquatus, the lling-necked 

 Pheasant, specimens with white rings round the neck, or with more or 

 less white on its sides, are by far the most plentiful. Other varieties 

 are frequently met with — pure white, white-tailed, pied, mottled, and 

 buff-coloured "Isabelline," or "Bohemian." Dr. E. Moore mentions that 

 a hybrid between a male Pheasant and a female Black Grouse was shot 

 at Whidey, near Plymouth, by the llev. Mr. Morshead (Mag. Nat. Hist. 

 1837), aud several other instances will be mentioned under Black Grouse. 

 Mr. John Gatcombe describes a curious hybrid between a Domestic Fowl 

 and a Common Pheasant killed in a Avild state in Dec. ISS.j, atMembland, 

 between the mouths of the Yealm and Erme, the property of Mr. E. C. 

 Baring. It was a remarkably fine bird, weighing within one ounce of sis 

 pounds. The plumage exhibited equally the character of both species. 

 The keeper who shot the bird said there were several similar specimens in 

 the covers. It had a very large and long sjmr on one leg only, the other 

 leg being similar to an ordinary hen Pheasant (Zool. 188-5, p. 21). Mr. 

 J. C. Mansel-Pleydell mentions a similar hybrid (' Birds of Dorset,' p. 69). 

 >Such hybrids are known as "■ Peros." 



Poh\hele mentions (1707) that Pheasants had been almost annihilated 

 in Devon, but were beginning to increase again when carefully preserved. 

 In 1831) they were common in the neighbourhood of Mamhead, Kenn, 

 and other preserves (T. & K.). The llev. Thos. Johnes, liector of 



