THE COMMON PHEASANT 



ings with the Chinese Ring -necked Pheasant {P. Torquatus) 

 and other species, we do occasionally meet it, especially 

 in the large woodland of the Northern Division of 

 Northamptonshire, which by their small size, the absence 

 of any trace of the white collar, so conspicuous in the 

 Chinese bird, and the intense blackness of the plumage 

 of the lower belly, present the characteristics of the true 

 unadulterated species." 



It may be accepted as an indisputable fact that what is 

 now called the common Pheasant is a mixed variety — a 

 manufactured article — consisting of a blend of Chinese, 

 Japanese and the Old English Pheasants, and in some 

 instances other varieties in addition. 



The introduction of alien blood into that of P. Colchicus 

 has rendered the plumage more attractive, and increased 

 the size and weight of the birds, without interfering with 

 their prolificacy. 



B. R. Morris, in his work on British Game Birds and 

 Wildfowl (1855), says: 



" There is a variety of the Pheasant having a white 

 ring round the neck, which is not uncommon, and which 

 used to be considered a distinct species from the ordinary 

 one, but is now found to be only a variety, as it will feed 

 with the common Pheasant, and the presence of ring- 

 necked birds with young brood seems to be quite 

 accidental. 



"In some districts, however, they prevail to a great 

 extent, and Mr Selby says that in his neighbourhood they 

 have nearly superseded the common kind." 



From the foregoing account it would appear that the 



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