THE EABED PHEASANT. 213 



aud the peculiar character of the tail coverts, whicli spring 

 from the lower part of the back, and in great part obscure 

 the true tail. These tail coverts are white, and have the 

 barbs separated, so that they form an elegant appendage to 

 the body. The legs and feet of the Eared Pheasant are red 

 in colour, and of true scratching or ra serial type, the claws 

 being bluntly curved, like those of the common fowl. The 

 head is very striking in its general appearance ; the vaulted 

 beak is of a pale fleshy white, contrasting strongly with the 

 red skin of the face, which again is thrown into prominence 

 by the white feathers that constitute the so-called ears of the 

 bird. 



Consul Swinhoe states that, " This bird is found in the 

 hills north of Pekin, in Mantchuria, and brought in winter to 

 Pekin in large numbers, both alive and dead. It is called by 

 the natives the Ho-ke. The feathers of this bird were formerly 

 worn by Tartar warriors. I have not seen the species in its 

 wild state." 



Pere David informs us that these birds frequent the 

 woods of high mountains, and that they subsist much more 

 upon green vegetables, leaves of trees, and succulent roots 

 than upon grain. In their habits they are more gregarious 

 than the common pheasants, assembling together in flocks of 

 considerable size. In domestication they become exceedingly 

 tame, feeding readily from the hand. When at large they 

 appear remarkably hardy; they breed when only one year 

 old, and acquire their adult plumage at the first autumnal 

 moult. 



They possess the very rare instinct of domestication. 1 

 have seen specimens at Mr. Stone's residence in the Welsh 

 hills as familiar as barn-door fowls. In the closely confined 

 pens in our Zoological Gardens their increase has not been 

 very rapid, but they have proved themselves as hardy and 

 prolific as common turkeys would have been if placed 

 under similar disadvantageous circumstances. Mr. Bartlett 

 writes : " Of the Crossoptilon we have reared nine fine birds 



