PHEASANTS 



FOE OOYEETS AND AYIAEIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



NATURAL HISTOEY OE THE PHEASANTS. 



HABITS, POOD, STRUCTURE, ETC. 



I HE PHEASANTS, properly so called (as distinguislied from the allied 



but perfectly distinct groups which include the Gold and Silver 



pheasants, the Kaleege, the Monaul, &c.) constitute the genus 



or group known to naturalists under the title Fhasianus. Of 



the true pheasants no less than thirteen distinct species have 



been described by the most recent writer on the subject, Mr. 



D. Gr. Elliot, in hi^ magnificent monograph on the Phasianidce. 



Of these several are known only by rare specimens of their skins 



J brought from scarcely explored Asiatic countries, and others cannot be 



regarded as anything more than mere local or geographical varieties of well 



known species. 



Without including, however, such birds as have, from their rarity or other 

 causes, no practical interest to English game preservers, there remain several well 

 known species that will require our careful consideration. Such are : The common 

 pheasant {Fhasianus colchicus), now generally diffused throughout southern and 

 central Europe ; the Chinese (P. torquatus) ; the Japanese (P. versicolor) ; the 

 Reeves (P. Beevesii) ; and the Soemmerring (P. Soemmerringii). These, however, 

 are so closely related in their structure, form, and habits, that their natural history 

 and general management may be given once for all, and their distinctive pecu- 

 liarities pointed out subsequently. 



The pheasants constituting the genus Fhasianus are readily distinguished by 

 their extremely elongated tail feathers, which attain their maximum development in 



