18 PHEASANTS 



were, until lately, almost exclusively- 

 tenanted. 



The Japanese pheasant (P. versicolor) 

 was first brought into this country in 

 1840, the original birds being sent to the 

 Earl of Derby by the King of Italy. 

 This is the smallest of his race, due, as 

 Mr. Millais points out, to long isolation 

 in the islands of Japan. Among our 

 other pheasants, he is easily recognized 

 by his darker plumage of varying shades 

 of green, bronze, and blue. The pure 

 versicolor is not hardy enough to with- 

 stand our damp climate, but crosses 

 between Japanese and Chinese or Mon- 

 golian pheasants have found favour with 

 many. Like other hybrids, they are 

 often larger than either parent ; the one 

 feature of this cross being the production 

 of a bird perhaps more beautiful than any 

 natural species. 



The Japanese strain was well known 

 in East Anglian coverts fifty years ago, 

 but was lost soon after, remained almost 

 entirely neglected for many years, and has 



