PHEASANT. 447 



solans of Severtzow), having scarcely perceptible green reflections on the 

 upper tail-covertSj and a very narrow white ring, but with the green tips to 

 the feathers of the underparts very large. West of Turkestan P. colchicus 

 occurs, ranging into Europe. The western species is best distinguished 

 by its reddish-brown wing-coverts. It is supposed that the Pheasant was 

 introduced into Europe from the Caucasus, and that the Ring Pheasants 

 now found in many parts are the results of the interbreeding of 

 native or Caucasian birds with examples of P- torquatws imported from 

 China; but Latham says that the ringed variety occurs in South-east 

 Russia, a statement which Pallas appears to confirm. It is possible 

 that there may be a ringed form of P. colchicus, or we may suppose that 

 Ringed Pheasants were brought into Russia by the caravans from the 

 east. 



The Pheasant is a very timid bird, and seldom strays far from cover. It 

 is most successfully reared in plantations where there is plenty of under- 

 wood to conceal it during the day, and cultivated land close by on which 

 it can stroll out to feed in early naorning or late evening, ready at the 

 slightest alarm to run back into cover. Large parks sprinkled over with 

 snug little copses are its favourite haunts, and it may often be seen on the 

 broad green drives in the forest. But though the Pheasant is never seen 

 far from trees, and roosts in a tree, or will take refuge in the branches if 

 it be disturbed by a fox or persecuted by the sportsman, it is essentially a 

 ground-bird, and trusts more to its feet than to its wings for safety. It runs 

 with great speed, and does not take wing except in extreme need. In the 

 quiet of an early misty morning or in the calm of a summer evening the 

 Pheasant quits the cover and repairs to the neighbouring fields in search 

 of food; but where the herbage is tall and dense it will remain 

 amongst it throughout the day, only quitting it at nightfall for the nest 

 or the roosting-place. It feeds on grain, insects, worms, tender shoots of 

 many kinds, and various small seeds and berries, especially those of the 

 elder and the blackberry. It consumes enormous quantities of wire- worms, 

 and in autumn it frequents the open glades, feeding upon the acorns and 

 beech-mast. To this fare is usually added much artificial food spread by 

 the gamekeepers on the " drives " and platforms of branches erected in the 

 woods, the birds being often so tame as to come and pick up this food at 

 the keeper's feet. Small patches of beans are often planted near the woods 

 for this bird to feed upon in autumn. When surprised in an open spot 

 the male invariably runs off at the approach of a stranger ; but the female 

 often crouches close to the earth and remains motionless, her colours so 

 blending with the withered leaves that she is comparatively safe. If she 

 perceives that she is detected, she starts suddenly up, and running 

 rapidly through the intricacies of the underwood is soon lost to view. 



In the semi-domesticated state in which this bird is found in England it 



