60 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 



of the Bala Murghab river, where it was discovered, it leads 

 a semi-aquatic life, running and swimming in watery thickets 

 Uke a Rail. It has of late been introduced into Britain. I use 

 the name " Koyal " as it was named after the late King Iidward 

 VII when Prince of Wales. 



Besides these, there are two very distinct races which have not 

 been introduced to Europe so far as I know : — 



Oxus Pheasant. 



Phasianus chrysomdas, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, 

 Vol. XXII, p. 327. 



This race, from the Amu-Darya valley, has the spangling of the 

 flanks very large and bold, and dark green : the green edgings 

 of the breast feathers coalesce and fuse with the green of the 

 neck ; there is no white neck-ring, but the wings are white ; the 

 rump is reddish. The hen is pale, like that of the Mongolian. 



Vlangal's Pheasant. 



Phasianus ulangali, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol. XXII, 

 P- 33°- 



Vlangal's Pheasant inhabits the Tsaidam marshes, but so 

 remarkably pale in colour, suggesting a desert form ; the shoulders 

 are sandy, without the usual markings, and the ground-colour 

 of the flanks buff ; the wings and rump grey as in the Ring-neck, 

 but there is no neck-ring, the hen is very pale, the dark mottlings 

 of the plumage being fawn, instead of black as in other hens of 

 this type. 



Then there are several less distinct forms closely related to 

 the above. 



Shaw's Pheasant. 



Phasianus shawi, Brit. Mus. Cat., Birds, Vol. XXII, 

 p. 326. 



This is the Yarkand race, and comes very near to the Mur- 

 ghab Pheasant, but has, among other small diflerences, a tinge 

 of grey on the wings and green on the rump. 



