﻿PLATE 
  LIII 
  

  

  TARIM 
  PHEASANT 
  

  

  Phasianus 
  colchicus 
  tarimensis 
  Pleske 
  

  

  In 
  the 
  poplar 
  forests 
  along 
  the 
  Tarim 
  River 
  these 
  birds 
  live 
  in 
  covies, 
  depending 
  on 
  berries 
  for 
  

   food 
  during 
  the 
  hard 
  winters 
  and 
  often 
  compelled 
  to 
  roost 
  on 
  the 
  slight 
  branches 
  of 
  the 
  poplars 
  to 
  

   avoid 
  their 
  enemies 
  on 
  the 
  ground. 
  Besides 
  the 
  foxes 
  and 
  smaller 
  vermin, 
  they 
  look 
  down 
  from 
  their 
  

   perch 
  upon 
  troops 
  of 
  wild 
  pig 
  and 
  wild 
  camels, 
  which 
  pad 
  softly 
  over 
  the 
  sand, 
  while 
  overhead 
  flocks 
  

   of 
  wild 
  geese 
  drive 
  northward 
  almost 
  before 
  the 
  ice 
  breaks 
  from 
  the 
  river 
  and 
  pools. 
  

  

  