30 
AMONG THE BinCIIES. 
are known to us, and even breed in this country ; sucli, for 
instance, as tlie Gold and Silver Pheasants of China (P. 
pictus and P. nyctliemerus of Linnaius). Later introduc- 
tions are the Horned or Impeyan Pheasant from the Hima- 
layan mountains of India {Lopliopliorus Impeijanus)^ and 
Eeeves' Pheasant {Syrmatriiis Reevesii) from China. But 
these illustrious strangers do not come within the scope of 
our present subject, the Pheasants of the British preserves, 
of whose sylvan home Mary Howitt gives us the following 
charming picture : 
The stockdove builds in the old oak wood ; 
The rook in the elm tree rears her brood ; 
The owl in a rnin doth hoot and stare ; 
The mavis and merle build ever jwhere : 
But not for these will we go to-day, 
'Tis the pheasant that lures us hence away; 
The beautiful pheasant, that loves to be 
Where the young green birches are waving free. 
Away ! to the woods, with the silvery rind, 
And the emerald tresses afloat in the wind ; 
For 'tis joy to go to those sylvan bowers. 
When summer is rich with leaves and flowers ; 
And to see, 'mid the growth of all lovely things. 
The joyous pheasant unfold his wings. 
And then cower down, as if to screen 
His gorgeous purple, gold, and green. 
Oh ! beautiful bird, in thy stately pride, 
Thou wast made in a waste of flowers to hide, 
And to fling to the sun the glorious hues 
Of thy rainbow gold, thy greens and blues ! 
Yes, beautiful pheasant, the birch-wood bowers, 
Eich many-formed leaves, bright-tinted flov/ers, 
Broad masses of shade, and sunshine free, 
In thy gorgeous beauty, are meet for Ihee. 
