THE CHINESE PHEASANT. 157 



different shades of reddish violet, and crossed at regular 

 intervals with broad, conspicuous black bands, passing into 

 reddish-brown on the sides of the basal portion of the six 

 ceiitral feathers ; bill yellowish-horn colour ; irides yellow ; 

 feet greyish-white. The female has the whole of the upper 

 surface brownish-black, with a margin of buff to every feather ; 

 the throat whitish, and the central portion of the under 

 surface fawn colour ; flanks mottled with brown ; tail buff, 

 barred with dark brown, between which are other interrupted 

 bars of the same hue. These marks are broader on the two 

 central feathers than on the others, and, moreover, do not 

 teveal the edge on either side." 



The specific name torquatus is derived from torquis, a 

 chain or collar worn around the neck. This species was 

 introduced into England a great many years since, long 

 before the time of Latham, who described it as having been 

 turned out in preserves on many estates. No birds could be 

 better adapted for our coverts ; being natives of a cold part 

 of China, they are very hardy — a character which they 

 display by laying early in the season, and by producing an 

 abundant supply of eggs. The pure Chinese is a bird of 

 bold flight, rising through the covert with great quickness,, 

 and then pursuing a swift, straight course. It is unquestionably 

 a most ornamental addition to our game birds, being valuable 

 not only for the beauty of its plumage, but also for the delicacy 

 of its flesh. The breed is, however, kept in a state of absolute 

 purity with some difficulty, as the males are apt to wander to 

 " fresh woods and pastures new." Hence crosses between it 

 and the common species are very prevalent; these constitute 

 what are usually called the ring-necked pheasants. These 

 cross-bred birds are perfectly fertile, not only with either pure 

 race, but also inter se. They are, however, variable in plumage, 

 the amount of white in the neck varying from four or five 

 feathers to a nearly complete circle, and the feathers on the 

 flanks being intermediate between the beautiful spotted buff 

 of the pure Chiuese and the dark colour of the common bird. 



