164: PHEASANTS FOB GOVEBTS ANB AVIABIES. 



question. WitL. regard to the alteration in plumage pro- 

 duced by an exposure to these new conditions for 373 years, 

 it Inust be confessed that they are remarkably insignificant. 

 There is the same glossy, shining green of the head and neek, 

 the white ring completely surrounding the neck, the pale 

 greenish tail and wing coverts, but the breast and flanks are 

 less distinctly spangled, the under parts being of a more 

 uniform red. 



The slight change in the plumage is doubtless owing to 

 the influence of a change of climate acting through many 

 generations, added, perhaps, by a change of diet. We are 

 informed by Mr. J. English Torbett that the ripe seeds of the 

 Calla lethiopica, so common as a greenhouse plant in this 

 country, are much sought after by the pheasants in St. 

 Helena, and that it forms a large portion of their food. 



Glosely allied to the ordinary Chinese pheasant is a bird 

 which has been described as a distinct species by Consul 

 Swinhoe, under the title of the Ringless Chinese Pheasant 

 (P. decollatus). It was obtained by him atChung-king-foo, 

 in Szechuen, and a somewhat similar bird was procured 

 by Pere David, at Moupin, near the Thibetan boundary. I 

 cannot regard these birds as anything more than mere local 

 varieties of the ordinary Chinese species, and must refer 

 those who wish to trace the slight distinctions between them 

 to Mr. Elliot's " Phasianid^," in which they are figured. In 

 the same magnificent folio will be found engravings of the 

 Yarkand Pheasant (P. msigrds), and Shaw's Pheasant 

 (P. shawii) ; both closely allied to the common Chinese 

 species, if not merely to be regarded as geographical varia- 

 tions from it. Neither are known in a living state in Europe, 

 and consequently do not require detailed notice in the present 

 work. 



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