SCEMMEBRINdS PHEASANT. 211 



pugnacions and fierce dispositions ; not only the males, but 

 frequently the females destroy each other. The want of 

 sufficient space aud means of escape among bushes, shrubs, 

 and trees is no douLt the cause of many females being killed 

 when kept in confinement ; aud this serious misfortune is un- 

 luippily of no rare occui'rence. After the cost a,nd trouble of 

 obtaining paii's of these beautiful birds, and they have 

 recovered from their long confinement on the voyage, their 

 owner is desirous of reaping a reward by obtaining an 

 abundant supply of eggs as the birds approach the breeding 

 season, when, alas ! he finds that some disturbance has 

 occurred, the place is filled with feathers, and the female 

 bird, from wliiidi he expected so much, is found rlead oi- 

 dying, her h(;ad scalped, her eyes picked out, or some other 

 serious injur}' inlbcted." 



The habits of this Uiaguificent bird are thus descriljed b}- 

 '(.'assin in Commodore ferry's "Expedition to tlie China Seas 

 and Japan, 1852-5 t"- 



" This is nudoubtedl}' the most beautiful of all the true 

 idieasauts, and will compare in richness and brilliancy of 

 colour with almnst any (jtlier species of bird. In the adult 

 male the neck and back are rif a deep golden red, with a 

 metallic lustre of great beauty, but the female is exceedingl}- 

 plain and iinpretembng. 



" Like the i' i-rrsirolnr, the present is only known as a 

 bird of Japan ; and but a, few years have elapsed since it wps 

 first introduced to the attention of naturalists by the celebrated 

 I'rofessor Teniminck, well known as the most distinguished of 

 i'luropean ornithologists. It appears to inhabit the same 

 ilistiicts of country as the \'ersicrdor, and to subsist on much 

 the same desciaptiou of food ; but we regret to say that the 

 gentlemen of the expedition had no opportunity f(jr observing 

 this species to such an extent as to enable ns to make any 

 important contribution to its histor}'. 



" Nothing having previousl)- been published in I'elatiou to 

 this beautiful pheasant, we have exerted ourselves to obtain 



p -J 



