180 The Chinese Pheasant. 



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 ago as the 

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

 very pecuUar circumstances, as related by Brookes in his history 

 of the island. Fernandez Lopes, 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 can be no doubt that the Chinese or ring-necked 

 species has remained in its puritjr 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 Eio, 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. In these circumstances, the 

 introduction of a Colchian pheasant to the island is exceedingly 

 improbable, and that of a Japanese bird out of the question. 



With regard to the alteration in plumage produced by 

 exposure to these new conditions for more than 400 years, 



