172 



PHEASANT. 



A. — Phasianus cristatus, Lin. i. 270. 1. j3. Gm. Lin. i. 738. y. Faun. suec. No. 199. 



B. Raii, 51. A. 1. var. i. Will. 110. Boroivsk. ii. 178. a. Roman. Orn. i. 60. 



Gm'n. ii. t. 216. Temm. Pig. Sf Gall. 8vo. ii. p. 239. 

 Le Coq huppe, Buf. ii. 116. PL ml. 49. 

 Crested Cock, Gen. Syn. iv. 703. Will. Engl. 158. 



This differs from the Common Sort, in having a tuft of feathers 

 on the head, instead of the comb ; though retaining the wattles. It 

 is not uncommon; and in some the crest is so large, as to hide almost 

 the sight of the eyes, by hanging over them. As to the colour of 

 the plumage, it varies in the manner of the Common Sort. We have 

 observed some beautiful birds of this kind, having the crest, belly, 

 wings, and tail, white, the rest like the Game Cock ; the sickle tail 

 feathers green and white. 



The Polish breed, so called, belongs to this division, and is mostly 

 of a dark, greenish black, rarely a mixture ; generally with very 

 long wattles, and a very large and spreading tuft of white feathers 

 on the crown ; and for the most part a large-sized bird. 



B.— Phasianus peutadactylus, Gm. Lin. i. 738. S. Bris. ii. 169. Id. Svo. i. 46. Frisch, 



t. 127. 128. Roman. Orn. 62. 

 Le Coq a cinq Doigts, Buf. ii. 124. 

 Darking Cock, Gen. Syn. iv. 703. 



This has two toes behind instead of one, otherwise like the others, 

 and is common in England, chiefly about Dorking, in Surrey, hence 

 called the Dorking Fowls. They are larger too than most others. 



* The Silk Fowl has frequently two hind toes as well as other kinds. I have a leg of a 

 Fowl with three toes behind, which I believe not to be uncommon ; and in the Museum of 

 the late Sir A. Lever was a Cock Sparrow, with seven claws on each foot. The Dorking 

 Fowls are in great esteem for their size, and incredible numbers sold about Christmas, 

 being frequently known to weigh seven or eight pounds, when plucked; but a friend of 

 mine sent some of these into Scotland, one of the Cocks of which weighed almost fourteen 

 pounds. 



