THE COMMON PHEASANT 



are dark grey, with transverse mottled cream-coloured mark- 

 ings, there being twenty-four quills in each wing, whereas the 

 secondaries are a mixture of brown, buff and grey, but when 

 viewed collectively in the wing, the yellowish-brown colora- 

 tion predominates. 



The under surface of the wing is light grey, but yellow 

 or buff at its base of attachment. 



The tail feathers are remarkable for their length, and 

 arranged in pairs. The two central ones are the longest, 

 there being eight on either side of the pair of centrals. The 

 margins of the tail feathers are tinted with green, and 

 reflect this colour from their upper surfaces, the under 

 surface being much darker. They are of a buff-brown 

 colour, with dark transverse markings, the latter being either 

 opposite or alternative arranged, but the markings vary in 

 their width, being broadest towards the tip of the feathers, 

 and opposite to each other. At the base of the tail, on the 

 upper surface, there are a number of smaller feathers, 

 similarly marked, which materially add to the beauty of the 

 caudal appendage. 



The hen Pheasant, as stated elsewhere, is smaller than 

 the cock bird, and the tail shorter. The bulk of her plumage 

 is a greyish-yellow, marked with black or yellowish-brown, 

 but that growing on the top of the head, and lower part of 

 the neck, are tinged with red. Tail, yellowish-grey, with 

 black mottlings and spots, but the transverse bars, so striking 

 in the male, are absent, whilst the under portions of the 

 body are lighter. 



The length of a hen Pheasant is about 2 feet, or a trifle 

 over. The spur on the shank or back of the tarsus is 

 absent in the hen. In both male and female, the first or 

 inner toe is the shortest, the third one being the longest, and 

 the fourth one a trifle longer than the second one. 



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