Results of Crossing. 169 



It would be but a tedious and unprofitable waste of time 

 to enter into the consideration of these numerous breeds of 

 pheasants ; suffice to say they are all perfectly fertile, inter se, 

 as are their progeny to any extent. Tlie naming a variety as a 

 new species because it has a slight variation in its plumage 

 has Uttle interest for practical men. In the following pages, 

 therefore, the more typical breeds will be described, and their 

 numerous varieties treated as allies. 



In commencing the description of the different pheasants 

 adapted to the covert, the common species {Phasianus colchieus) 

 claims the first place, as it is more generally distributed and 

 better known than anj'^ of the more recent introductions. 

 Although not equalling some of them in size or gorgeousness 

 of plumage, it is by many sportsmen preferred in consequence 

 of its rapid flight and active habits. It is, however, only in 

 the remote districts of the country that it is now to be found 

 in a state of purity, as the introduction of the Chinese and 

 Japanese races has given rise to so many cross-bred varieties 

 that in many districts a pure-bred P. colchieus is a rarity. 



LordLilford, in " The Birds of Northamptonshire," writing 

 of the common pheasant, says : " Although it is now difficult 

 to find pure-bred specimens of this species, on account of 

 the frequent crossings with the Chinese Eing-necked Pheasant 

 (P. torquatus) and other species, we do occasionally meet with 

 birds, especially in the large woodlands of the northern division 

 of Northamptonshire, which, by their small size, the absence 

 of any trace of the white collar, which is so conspicuous in the 

 Chinese bird, and the intense blackness of the plumage of 

 the lower belly, present the characteristics of the true unadul- 

 terated species." 



In the district of the Humber we were informed by the 

 late Mr. John Cordeaux that " the pure old breed untainted 

 by any cross is now seldom to be met with, excepting in a few 

 locaUties furthest removed from the great centres of game 

 preserving. With these few exceptions, our resident birds 

 are a mixed race, exhibiting in a greater or less degree the 



