PHEASANT. 65 



R A SORES. PHASIANIDM 



PLATE CXLVIIL 



PHEASANT. 



PHASIANUS COLCHICUS. 



The Pheasant, although now a well-known bird all over 

 Europe, was originally from the East, introduced through the 

 luxury attendant upon civilization. It was brought first into 

 the south of Europe by way of Greece, and afterwards follow- 

 ed the routes of the conquering Romans. The story goes, 

 that the Argonauts met with these beautiful birds in great 

 numbers along the banks of the river Phasis or Fasso, on 

 their route to Colchis, from whence they fetched the golden 

 fleece ; from this circumstance are derived its generic and 

 trivial names. 



The true habitat of the Pheasant is the warmer part of 

 Asia, from the borders of the Black Sea to China, and 

 from Tartary to Persia and the East Indies. 



The beautiful plumage and the fine flavour of its flesh 

 have been the joint inducements for introducing the species 

 wherever it has been practicable. The luxury of this game 

 bird is very dearly bought, by the everlasting jealousy of 

 its possessor, and the great inducement to the neighbours 

 of all classes to get a shot at one of them whenever they 

 stray beyond the limits of a preserve. We are not com- 

 petent to give an opinion on the subject of game laws, but 

 the Pheasant is so easily multiplied, and the bird so capable 



VOL. IV. F 



