SGEMMBRRING'S PHEASANT. 105 



Dutch interpreter, whether these hirds were ever hunted, I could obtain but evasive 

 answers; but if, however, such is the case, the right is undoubtedly reserved to 

 the princes and nobility. 



" ' It appears that both these kinds of pheasants inhabit similar localities, 

 and are abundant over the southern and the middle parts of the island of Nipon, 

 for even during my rambles in the vicinity of Yokuhama, in the Bay of 

 Teddo, I could hear their calls in the Mttle thickets and woods scattered over 

 the country.' 



" Eor the following note on the bird now before us, and the preceding 

 species, we are indebted to the kindness of Joseph WUson, jun., M.D., of the 

 United States Navy, who was attached as surgeon to the squadron of the 

 expedition : — 



" ' Our acquaintance with the pheasants of Japan began soon after our arrival 

 at Simoda, or about the middle of April, 1854. A Japanese brought to the landing- 

 place a young bird, which, with the dark tips on his downy covering, and his 

 frequently repeated 'peet-peet,' might have been mistaken for a young turkey but 

 for his diminutive size. This interesting little fellow had been obtained by hatching 

 an egg of a wild pheasant, obtained in the hiUs, under a domestic fowl. 



" ' A few days after this a male pheasant in fuU plumage was brought to 

 the same place, dead but uninjured, and evidently but very recently kiUed. The 

 golden brilliancy of this bird's plumage is probably not exceeded by any object in 

 nature, and is quite equal in lustre to the most brilliant markings of the humming- 

 birds, or the most highly burnished metal. This splendid colouring covers the 

 whole body of the bird, merely shaded with a little copper-red about the tips and 

 margins of the feathers, so as to show the lance-head form of the feathers. This 

 specimen was taken on board the flagship Independence and preserved. 



" ' The specimen of the other species that I saw was shot by Mr.« Heine, who 

 made a very beautiful painting of it. The two birds are found in the same 

 localities, and seem to be similar in habits. 



" ' The Japanese system of agriculture, although very minute, and appro- 

 priating aU available land to some useful purpose, yet aifords abundant shelter for 

 the native fauna. Scarcely any land is tilled except such as can be watered, so 

 that the tops of hills and large portions of mountainous and precipitous places are 

 appropriated to the growth of timber, or left covered with the primitive forest. 

 These wooded districts afford shelter for wild hogs, foxes, and raccoons (the skins 

 of which were seen), as well as for the pheasants ; and they aU descend in turn to 

 plunder the crops, or steal the chickens in the valleys. During the first part of our 

 stay at Simoda, the cultivated fields afforded no food for the pheasants. The natives 

 told us there were plenty in the hiUs ; but no one was willing to undertake to show 

 them, and several rambles through the bushes where these birds were supposed to 



