4 PHEASANT FARMING 



and, while almost identical in nature and requiring the same treat- 

 ment, yet are not true pheasants. 



The Chinese pheasant {Phasianiis torquatiis) and the Common or 

 English Black-neck pheasant (Phasianiis colchiciis) are each sepa- 

 rate and distinct varieties of pheasants, while the English Ring-neck 

 is a hybrid of the two. This latter bird, English Ring-neck, is the 

 common pheasant of England today, and by far the most common 

 variety met with in the United States. It is frequently confounded 

 with the Chinese. The English Black-neck pheasant is in general 

 nature and form the same as the Chinese, differing in this, that the 

 English Black-neck is of a general mahogany red cast and has no ring 

 around the neck, while the Chinese is lighter and brighter in color and 

 has a silky white ring or band around the neck. The English Ring- 

 neck retains the mahogany red cast, though not so pronounced as the 

 English Black-neck, and has the white collar of the Chinese, hence th6 

 name, English Ring-neck, indicating the combination of these two 

 differences. 



The old English Black-neck was probably introduced into England 

 before the Norman Conquest. There is a record of the birds being 

 served as early as A. D. 1059, but now they have so interbred with 

 the Chinese that it is difficult to find a pure specimen. 



China Ring-neck Pheasant Hen 



