A Successful Introduction. 197 



of the male, which he figured in his " Planches colorees," giving 

 it the erroneous name of P. veneratus. This plate was copied 

 on a reduced scale in Jardine's " Naturalist's Library," 

 published in 1834. Dr. J. E. Gray, in his " Indian Zoology," 

 named the bird after the gentleman by whom it was introduced 

 into England, and by this name it is now generally known. 



The successful introduction of the hving birds now in 

 England is owing to the combined efforts of the late Mr. John J. 

 Stone and Mr. Walter H. Medhurst, H.M. Consul at Hankow. 

 Owing to their exertions, this splendid pheasant is now firmly 

 established in this country, and, Hke the P. versicolor 

 and P- torquatus, is to be seen at large in our woods, and 

 specimens are occasionally to be bought in the wholesale- 

 markets. 



For several years Mr. Stone made continuous efforts to 

 obtain this and other new pheasants from Northern China, 

 but with no satisfactory results until the aid of Mr. Medhurst 

 was obtained. It is mainly due to that gentleman's thorough 

 knowledge of the natives of China, and of their language, 

 that the true habitat of this bird was ascertained, and an 

 experienced Chinaman sent into the interior for the purpose 

 of collecting this and other rare pheasants, of which coloured 

 •drawings had been supplied for his guidance. 



The first three lots of birds obtained all died before reaching 

 England, with the exception of one male, which lived for about 

 three months. The fourth lot was obtained in the direction of 

 Syechney, about thirty days' journey from Hankow, and from 

 it seven Reeves's pheasants were deposited in the Zoological 

 Garden, Eegent's Park. Mr. Medhurst was anxious that Her 

 Majestj' Queen Victoria should have early possession of 

 specimens of P- reevesii ; and, in compliance with his wish, 

 one male and two females were offered to and graciously 

 accepted by Her Majesty. Since the successful reintroduction 

 of these birds they have bred freely both in confinement and at 

 large in England and on the Continent, and are now to be 

 purchased at the dealers'. 



