106 DEEE-SIIOQTING AND OTHER MATTEKS. 



entirely of a red scarlet colour, with a blue patch over 

 the tail. It inhabits the cool shady places, in the 

 very densest woods, often i'ar from water ; its chief, if 

 not only, food is the smaller kinds of grasshoppers. I 

 believe the bird is a native of India as well as Nipon. 



There are only two species of pheasant indigenous 

 to the country, the common green bird (Phasianus 

 versicolor) and the copper bird (P. Sommeringi). As a 

 rule, the former is found on the lower country, in the 

 plains, and near and amongst cultivation, whilst the 

 latter sticks chiefly to the hUls and mountainous dis- 

 tricts. In the north one may often shoot the two birds 

 right and left ; still, you certainly find the copper 

 pheasant on the very highest mountains, where its 

 food is mainly wild raspberries and other diminutive 

 fruit, and where the green bird never goes. They 

 appear never to cross in breeding. Both are equally 

 good to eat ; but the copper bird is more difficult to 

 shoot; he is more wary, and gets away quicker, and 

 altogether is far more satisfactory sport. The metallic 

 hues as the sun shines on its plumage are beautiful. 

 The Japanese keep them in confinement, but they never 

 appear to become tame or domesticated as the green 

 bird easily does. 



The large black species of pigeon (Carpophaga 



