20 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



The outermost secondary, No. i, as usual in this family of birds, is very short, 

 hardly half the length of the adjoining primary and succeeding secondary, and, with 

 No. 2, has not yet been shed. The moult of the secondaries has commenced with 

 No. 3, and is proceeding inward. No. 3 is practically full grown, the sheath dying 

 away from the umbilicus. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are in active growth, measuring respectively 

 beyond their blood-sheaths 106, 66 and 28 mm. From the 7th inward all are mesoptile. 



The new median coverts are strikingly unlike their predecessors, replacing the 

 dull, mottled buff and brown hues with the characteristic ventral pattern of a broad, 

 greenish-white shaft-stripe, bordered with black, with blue-grey marginal halves of the 

 webs. 



Of considerable interest are the adventitious feathers which are found on birds 

 of this age, appearing here and there, replacing those which have been accidentally 

 tweaked out during some unusual stress in the life of a young bird. They are full 

 grown and often somewhat worn, and are intermediate between juvenile and adult 

 plumage. Pectoral ones show distinct traces of green, while an isolated upper tail- 

 covert may be strongly tinged with crimson. A bird of this age measures in the 

 wing, 159; bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 41 mm. 



Three-quarters grown Male. — In a bird of about ten weeks we find the most 

 striking transition plumage. It has, indeed, a coat of many colours, especially as regards 

 the ventral surface. While the change from the brown juvenile to the blue-grey adult 

 dorsal plumage is comparatively quiet and harmonious, the acquisition of the adult 

 lower plumage institutes the most striking contrasts of colour. In violent contrast to 

 the pale, faded buff and black mottled juvenile feathers, there comes into view the 

 green and crimson of the splendid adult Blood Partridge. 



Simultaneously with the moult of the ventral surface occurs the assumption of the 

 adult wing and tail feathers. The little narrow sickle flights and rudders of the nestling 

 have served their turn well, and, although they have been used only a few weeks, show 

 considerable wear. As regards the tail, the moult begins with the central pair of 

 feathers, and proceeds very regularly and evenly outward : pair after pair falling out, 

 each delaying its moult until the second preceding pair has reached almost a third of its 

 full length. The rapidity of the moult diminishes when the second outer pair is reached, 

 and the two remaining outer pairs of rectrices are retained for a considerable time. 

 Even after the bird as a whole is clad in adult plumage these outer pairs often persist as 

 short, brown, curved, covert-like feathers. The contrast between the old and new tail 

 feathers is very striking, the former narrow, curved, mottled ; the latter broad, blunt and 

 clouded. 



Nearly grown Male. — At first glance a bird of about three months or fourteen 

 weeks appears fully adult, and, indeed, it is full grown as far as the plumage of the dorsal 

 parts are concerned— crest, head, neck and body. The chin and throat have, however, 

 only just begun to change, the warm buff of the juvenile being flecked here and there 

 with rich crimson growing feathers. The ventral plumage is still growing, but shows 

 no remaining juvenile feathers. In a bird of this age the wing moult is practically 

 complete, the 7th primary, perhaps, still with its blood sheath, while the delayed 8-1 oth 



