PHEASANTS 95 



gorgeous, tHe cock being characterized by bright yellow 

 crest, flowing orange and black cape, green back and yellow 

 rump, set off with a breast of dazzling red. He is an active 

 bird, constantly spreading his scintillating ruff in display 

 as he darts about. Unfortunately, it is next to impossible 

 to secure birds without an infusion of Amherst blood, so 

 readily do the species cross. The females are particularly 

 confusing, even the pure ones being much alike. The legs 

 of the Amherst, however, are dark greenish, while those 

 of the Golden are yellow, and the eyes of the former are 

 surrounded by a bare patch which is almost entirely absent 

 in the Golden. 



The Lady Amherst cock is somewhat larger than the 

 Golden, with a much longer tail, and his coloring, while 

 of the same general pattern, is more subdued in tone. Most 

 of the upper parts are metallic green edged with black. The 

 crest is dark red, the spreading cape white tipped with black 

 and the lower back pale yellow. The upper breast is green 

 also, while the abdomen is white. Lady Amherst and 

 Golden males do not assume the full adult plumage until the 

 second summer. 



The male hybrids between these two birds are most gor- 

 geous creatures, showing every possible combination of the 

 colors of the parent species. They are quite fertile and all 

 degrees of blood may be obtained. 



Both of these species are desirable aviary birds and 

 become very tame and confiding, and, in spite of their active 

 habits, endure close confinement perhaps better than any 

 other pheasants. The Goldens are particularly docile. Both 

 are hardy and easily kept. Next to the Ring-neck, the 

 Golden is the most common pheasant in captivity and is to be 

 obtained at a comparatively low price. The Amherst, for 

 some reason, is never so abundant, and its value is con- 

 siderably greater. 



