114 
The Ring-necked Pheasant. 
towards the base reddish ; tail-feathers beneath red at the base of the inner 
web, reddish olive towards the tips ; bill red or orange-yellow ; feet dusky ; 
iris red. Total length 10.5 inches, wing 6.3, tail 3.5, bill 0.88, tarsus 0.69." 
(B.M.C., vol. XX., p. 33). Habitat. " New Guinea, Jobi, Salwathy." (B.M.C.) 
Even so full a description as the above does not do justice 
to the rainbow-hned garment of this species, thous'h the main 
features are given, but a word picture of this species is but a 
poor apology for the living bird. 
I will deal with the parrots and parrakeets in the next 
instalment. 
(To be continued). 
❖ 
The Ring-neched Pheasant (Phastianus torquatus.) 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 
The keeping of fancy pheasants forms a very pleasing side 
of aviculture. Elaborate accommodation is not required, 
though space is almost a sine qua non to successful breeding 
under natural conditions, as also is the case if the birds are to 
''eport themselves at all naturally. 
Perhaps the chief charm of this group is their beautiful 
and gorgeous colouration, combined with fine shapely contour, 
and their most disappointing feature is the proneness of the 
males to savage the hens, in some cases after they have lived 
t' geth^r in amity for several years. 
However, I propose, first to describe them, give their 
wild life, then their life in captivity, and lastly indicate suitable 
accomfnodation. 
Description : As one never knows that they are absolutely 
pure bred Ring-necks in this country, unless one purchases 
newly imported specimens, I am quoting the description from 
riould's Birds of Asia in extenso, as follows: 
" The male has the forehead deep green ; crown of the head fawn colour 
glossed with green; over each eye a conspicuous streak of buff white; the 
naked papillated skin of the orbits and sides of the face deep scarlet or blood- 
red, interspersed beneath the eye with a series of very minute black feathers : 
l;orn-like tufts on each side of the head ; throat and neck rich deep, shining- 
green with violet reflections ; near th? base of the neck a conspicuous coll*r 
