PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



Pheasants, like other birds, are liable to exhibit variations 

 in their plumage, but only as a rule slightly so, excepting in 

 the case of those well-marked deviations alluded to earlier 

 on in this chapter. It is mostly in game preserves where 

 several different species have been introduced, that one is 

 most likely to come across the most marked difference in 

 plumage, as variability of type is only likely to be assumed, 

 where such a condition of affairs is, or has been, operative. 



Distinctiveness of species can only be maintained where 

 due regard is paid to the introduction of the birds coming 

 from pure stock (known to exist in a state of purity), 

 although the latter does not necessarily imply that such birds 

 will provide any better Pheasants for powder and shot. In 

 fact, the hybrid birds, as stated earlier on, are in the greatest 

 demand for sporting purposes, and precisely the same remark 

 applies to the cross-bred Mongolian Pheasants — birds that 

 are highly esteemed by sportsmen. 



R. Morris, in his British Game Birds and Wild Fowl, 

 gives the following description : — 



" The adult cock Pheasant has the bill of a light horn- 

 colour ; darker at the base. I rides, yellow hazel. The 

 eyes are surrounded by a naked papillose skin, of a very 

 bright scarlet colour, minutely dotted over with black 

 specks ; under each eye is a small patch of feathers of 

 a dark spotted glossy purple. Crown of head, bronze- 

 green, the feathers somewhat elongated ; on each side of 

 occiput is a tuft of dark golden-green feathers, erectable 

 at pleasure ; very conspicuous in the pairing season. The 

 rest of the head and the upper part of the neck, deep 

 purple, brown, green or blue, as seen in different lights ; 

 lower part of the neck and breast, reddish chestnut, each 

 feather with a black margin ; lower part of breast and 



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