THE SILVER PHEASANT 



{Phasianus nycthejnerus.') 



The attractive Silver or Penciled 

 Pheasant is, perhaps, one of the best 

 known of all the pheasants. It is a na- 

 tive of the wooded hills of China, espec- 

 ially in the southern portion. It is a 

 native of a country of rich and beautiful 

 verdure, noted alike for its flowers and 

 birds. This bird was first described and 

 given a name by Linnaeus in the year 

 1766. 



The Silver Pheasants present a most 

 graceful appearance, and the colors and 

 characteristics of their plumage are most 

 beautiful as they pose or fly in nature. 

 Unfortunately, though they may be do- 

 mesticated and breed readily in aviaries, 

 it is said that they cannot be confined 

 with other species of pheasants, for they 

 are of large size, of a pugnacious charac- 

 ter and are armed with large and power- 

 ful spurs, and do not hesitate to attack 

 the other species. A notable difference 

 exists in the plumage of the two sexes. 

 The plumage of the male is especially 

 beautiful, that of its back and long tail 

 being white, more or less marked with 

 fine lines of a bluish black color. The 

 feathers of its crest and under parts are 

 rather deep blue in color. The sides of 

 its head are marked by a bright scarlet 

 bare skin and its legs are also more or 

 less reddish in color. It is very fortunate 

 that the female is not so brightly dressed. 

 Her plumage of a dusky brown color 

 makes it possible for her to more easily 

 conceal herself and remain unnoticed. 

 This is very important during the pe- 

 riod of nesting, and caring for her young, 

 for if her plumage was as bright as that 

 of her mate she would expose her nest, 



her eggs and her young to other animals-, 

 both of the air and woods, who would 

 enjoy a dainty feast at her expense. 



In his "Monograph of the Phasiani- 

 dse," a beautifully illustrated work on the 

 family of pheasants. Dr. Daniel Giraud 

 Elliot says: "The red skin of the face 

 and the wattles become very much en- 

 larged in the spring, and are a rich crim- 

 son color. Indeed, in some instances, I 

 have seen this skin extend so much above 

 the head as to appear like a comb ; and at 

 a little distance the head seemed to be 

 all aflame. This skin is not smooth, but 

 thickly covered with small papillae." Dr. 

 Elliot also quotes an observer who says : 

 "This bird is known to the Chinese as 

 the Pih Heen, and it is one of those 

 which are embroidered upon the heart- 

 and back-badges of the official dresses 

 of the civil mandarins, to denote the 

 rank of the wearer." 



Both the. Silver Pheasant and its near 

 relative the golden species have been 

 introduced from China into the aviaries 

 of Europe. They have also been intro- 

 duced into the states of Washington and 

 Oregon where they seem to have become 

 acclimatized. Mr. William T. Hornaday 

 believes that on account of the strong 

 and hardy natures of both of these pheas- 

 ants, there should be little difficulty in 

 introducing them in any well wooded 

 farming region east of the Mississippi 

 River and south of the fortieth parallel. 

 Unfortunately the Silver Pheasant lacks 

 the amiable and gentle disposition of its 

 golden relative yet they are graceful 

 both in motion and in pose. 



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