PHEASANT. 177 



These birds are found in the Provinces of Mozambique, in Africa, 

 the Coast of Malabar, Siarn, &c. and are reputed good eating, though 

 at first disgusting to an European palate. This is called, by some, 

 the Bastard Silk Fowl. 



L.— Gallina vertice tuberoso, Pall. Spic. iv. 20. t. 3. f. 2. 

 Phasianus topliaceus, Ind. Orn. ii. 628. 1. v. Gm. Lin. i. 738. £. 



In this the chief difference, from others, consists in the skull, 

 which is considerably enlarged, so as to appear monstrous ; this can 

 scarcely be simply called a variety, as it arises solely from disease of 

 the part; for Dr. Pallas assures us, that on macerating the head of 

 a subject of this kind, so as to render the skull clean ; he found the 

 tuberous part to be preternaturally diseased, and enlarged from 

 caries, appearing in hollows like sponge ; and this, of course, in a 

 greater proportion, as the part was more diseased ; and further, that 

 birds so situated, appear stupid and foolish, and at any rate not 

 long lived. 



M.— Phasianus vertice cornibus donato, Gerin. ii. t. 213. Johnst. Av. pi. 29. f. 2. 

 Phasianns cornutus, Ind. Orn. ii. 638. 1. £. 



I cannot learn that this Variety differs from others, further than in 

 having three bent spurs on the crown ; to produce such a monstrosity, 

 we have been assured, is no difficult matter, and only consists in 

 cutting off a spur from the leg, and grafting it on the top of the 

 skull, where it will not unfrequently take root and unite; after which 

 it continues to increase, and sometimes to a great length ; an instance 

 of this may be seen in a White Cock in the British Museum, on the 

 head of which is a long spiral horn, in the shape of a large corkscrew, 

 obtained, as I was informed, by the above mode of engrafting. 



VOL. VIII. A A 



