THE PRINCE OF WALES'S PHEASANT. 153 



The most important characteristio of this line bird, aad 

 one that distinguishes it from all those pheasants naturalised 

 in this country, is that the wing coverts are white, a 

 character which it has in common with the two pheasants 

 named Phasianun insignis and P. monyolicus. It differs 

 somewhat in the markings and arrangement of the colours 

 from either of these birds, and has consequently been regarded 

 as a distinct species, and named Phasianus principalis, in 

 commemoration of the fact that the skins were received from 

 H.B.H. the Prince of Wales. 



If it should be successfully introduced — and there is no 

 reason why it should not be — it will be a welcome addition to 

 our coverts, giving size and hardihood to our native birds. 

 The plumage is beautifully spangled with bright purplish black 

 on a rich golden red ground, the white shoulders and dark 

 flight feathers standing out in strong contrast ; but there is 

 no ring around the neck, as in the Chinese pheasant. 



In its habits it differs somewhat from our common species 

 in frequenting swampy ground covered with reeds, returning 

 to the covert to roost at night. In its native habitat it is 

 most abundant. At Masuchak, on the Upper Murghab, in 

 Northern Afghanistan, Major Durand and Major Yate, as 

 recorded in the latter officer's letters from the Afghan 

 Boundary Commission," brought in a bag of nearly fifty 

 pheasants [Phasianus principaLis) killed during the afternoon. 

 " It is extraordinary," Major Yate remarks, " what a number 

 of pheasants there are in the reed swamps of this valley, and 

 this year they seem to be even more numerous than last. I 

 know of no country in the world where one can get such 

 good real wild-pheasant shooting as this. On the 21st we 

 also brought in a bag of seventy-two pheasants, but, as 

 on the first day, lost a good many wounded birds. The reeds 

 are so thick, and the birds, especially the old cocks, so 

 strong, that it is very hard to bag one's bird even after it 

 is shot." 



Dr. Aitchison, writing of this pheasant in the transactions 



