THE CHINESE PHEASANT. 159 



hybrid origin of the bird is thus apparent long after every 

 other trace of its mixed parentage has entirely passed away." 



The Chinese pheasant has been introduced into several 

 parts of the globe with success. The rapidity of its increase 

 in New Zealand has already been noticed. As long since as 

 the year 1513 it was acclimatised in the island of St. Helena 

 under very peculiar circumstances, as related by Brookes in 

 his history of the island. Fernandez Lopez, having deserted 

 from the army of A. Albuquerque at Goa, was exiled, along 

 with a number of negroes, and banished to St. Helena, being 

 supplied with roots, seeds, poultry, and pheasants for turning 

 out. These were of the species now under consideration. 

 Berries and seeds being abundant in the island, the birds 

 became wild, throve amazingly, and on the visit of Captain 

 Cavendish in 1588 he found them in great abundance and 

 admirable condition. In 1875 we are informed, in Melliss's 

 " St. Helena," " that they still exist abundantly, and quite 

 maintain the characteristics mentioned by Cavendish. They 

 are protected by game laws, which permit them to be killed, 

 on payment of the licences, for six weeks in the summer or 

 autumn of each year, and hundreds of them are generally 

 killed during one shooting season. They find plenty of 

 covert, and generally make their nests in the long tufty fields 

 of cow-grass {Paspalum scrobiculatum) ." 



There oan be no doubt that the Chinese or ring-necked 

 species has remained in its purity at St. Helena. Ships going 

 to India via the Cape of Good Hope in the olden time did not 

 sail within a thousand miles of St. Helena ; but, taking 

 advantage of the trade winds, they went direct to the coast 

 of South America, often, indeed, calling at Rio, and then 

 struck straight away for the Cape of Good Hope, aided by the 

 return trade wind. It was on the return from India that the 

 Island of St. Helena was visited, and letters from England to 

 the island went via the Cape. IJiider these circumstances, 

 the introduction of a Colchian pheasant to the island is 

 exceedingly improbable, and that of a Japanese out of the 



