Genus Phasianus 
THE TRUE PHEASANTS 
The long wedge-shaped tail is composed of eighteen feathers, the middle pair being 
much longer than the rest. The third, fourth, and fifth primaries are the longest. The 
male has the sides of the face above and below the eye covered with scarlet skin, on 
which are patches and small spots of feathers ; except in the case of the P. colchicus 
mongolicus and P. c. principalis the ear tufts are much lengthened, and in all cases the 
legs are ornamented with powerful spurs. The various species, or sub-specific local races, 
whichever the naturalist may choose to regard them, are all natives of Asia, including 
the islands of Japan and Formosa. 
One of our highest authorities on the game birds, Mr. Ogilvie Grant, expresses 
his views 1 on the position of the True Pheasants by means of the following table: — 
I. Crown of the head, green or greenish bronze. 
A. General colour of the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts yellow or red-bronze, 
glossed with purple or green. 
(a) With no white ring round the neck, or with only traces of one. 
In this group Mr. Grant includes seven species and sub-species : The Common Pheasant 
(Phasianus colchicus), sub-species the Talisch Pheasant (Phasianus ialischensis), the Persian 
Pheasant (Phasianus persicus), the Prince of Wales' Pheasant (Phasianus principalis), the 
Zerafshan Pheasant (Phasianus zerafshanicus), Shaw's Pheasant (Phasianus shawi), the Tarim 
Pheasant (Phasianus tarimensis), the Oxus Pheasant (Phasianus chrysomelas). 
(b) With a broad white ring round the neck. 
In this group Mr. Grant includes (species and sub-species) : The Mongolian Ring-necked 
Pheasant (Phasianus mongolicus), sub-species Severtzov's Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus semi- 
torquatus). 
B. General colour of the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts greenish or bluish slate 
colour, with a rust-coloured patch on each side (except in P. versicolor). 
(c) With a white ring round the neck. 
Three species are included by Mr. Grant under this heading : The Chinese Ring-necked 
Pheasant (Phasianus torquatus), the Sa-Tschen Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus satscheunensis), 
the Formosan Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus formosanus). 
(d) With no white ring round the neck or with only traces of one. 
Five species are enumerated in this group : The Chinese Ringless Pheasant (Phasianus 
decollalus), Strauch's Pheasant [Phasianus siratichi), Vlangali's Pheasant (Phasianus vlangalii), 
Stone's Pheasant (Phasianus elegans), the Japanese Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor). 
II. Crown of the head reddish brown. 
Soemmering's Copper Pheasant (Phasianus soemmeriugi) is the only species of this group 
according to Mr. Grant. 
III. Crown of the head white. 
Reeves's Pheasant (Phasianus reevesii). 
1 Game Birds, vol. ii. pp. 6-7. 
74 
