GHAPTEE XV. 

 The Sungarian Pheasant 



(Phasianus alpherakyi). 



THIS beautiful pheasant inhabits the north central 

 parts of Manchuria and probably the north-east of 

 Mongolia, and according to the account given by 

 Mr. Buturlin in his excellent article on the true pheasants 

 published ir the Ihis, 1904, it is abundant in the middle 

 Sungari. Owing to some confusion which arose with regard 

 to the naming of this species, Mr. Buturlin found it necessary 

 to give it a new name ; he therefore called it after the well- 

 known Eussian zoologist, Mr. S. N. Alpheraky, who sent the 

 first specimen to him for description. 



In April, 1903, a large consignment of Sungarian pheasants, 

 in a frozen condition, reached the London market via the 

 Siberian Eailway, and \ij the kindness of Mr. Carstang I 

 obtained some perfect specimens. At that time the distinction 

 between the Sungarian and Hagenbeck's pheasants was not 

 recognised, and the description and name of the latter were 

 applied to the new bird. The male bird was 3-|lb. in weight, 

 and its extreme length was 38in. from the beak to the point of 

 the tail. The hen weighed 2ilb. 



I am indebted to Mr. F. W. Frohawk for the following 

 description of the Siingarian pheasant, the skin of which is 

 still in his collection : 



Male. — Forehead, deep black-green ; crown, pale greenish 

 olive blending into greyish on nape ; lower nape, bronze-green, 

 superciliary band broad, extending almost to bill, pure white 

 with terminal green tufts ; conspicuous white ear spot ; throat 

 and neck, deep violet green, becoming purple on sides ; collar, 

 pure white, very broad, meeting at lower edge in front ; 



