THE COMMON PHEASANT. 145 



distinct species ; suffice to say they are all perfectly fertile, 

 inter se, as are their progeny to any extent. It may please 

 closet naturalists to classify them, not knowing how easily 

 they may be bred, and to give them specific names after their 

 friends, which has been done in a dozen or more instances. 

 But the naming a variety as a new species because it has a 

 few feathers on the neck or wing whiter or darker than those 

 of another, has little interest for practical men. 



In the following pages the more typical species will be 

 described, and their numerous .varieties treated as allies. 



In commencing the description of the different pheasants 

 adapted to the covert, the common species (Phasianus col- 

 chicVfS) claims the first place, as it is more generally 

 distributed and better known than any of the more recent 

 introductions. Although not equalling some of them in size, 

 or gorgeousness of plumage, it is by many sportsmen pre- 

 ferred in consequence of its rapid flight and active habits. 

 It is, however, only in th^ remote districts of the country 

 that it is now to be found in a state of purity, as the intro- 

 duction of the Chinese and Japanese races has given rise 

 to so many cross-bred varieties that in many places a purely 

 bred P. colchicus is a rarity. 



Lord Lilford, in "The Birds of Northamptonshire," writing 

 of the common pheasant, says : — " Although it is now difficult 

 to find pure-bred specimens of this species, on account of 

 the frequent crossings with the Chinese Ring-necked Pheasant 

 (Phasianus torquatus) and other species^ we do occasionally 

 meet with birds, especially in the large woodlands of the 

 northern division of Northamptonshire, which, by their small 

 size, the absence of any trace of the white collar, which is 

 so conspicuous in the Chinese bird, and the intense blackness 

 of the plumage of the lower belly, present the characteristics 

 of the true unadulterated species." 



In the district of the Humber we are informed by 

 Mr. John Cordeaux that "the pure old breed untainted by 

 any cross is now seldom to be met with, excepting in a few 



I. 



