The Mongolian Pheasant 
IOI 
Sub-species of P. colchicus 
HAGENBECK'S PHEASANT 
Phasianus colchicus hagenbecki (Rothschild) 
This beautiful sub-species, which may be called a glorified torquatus, was first 
described by the Hon. Walter Rothschild at the meeting of the British Ornitho- 
logical Club, Nov. 20, 1901. His description is as follows: — 
"This species is somewhat allied to P. torquatus, Gm., but differs in the following points: 
The scapulars are paler rufous buff, instead of dark bright chocolate-rufous or maroon-chocolate, 
as in P. torquatus. The flanks and breast are much paler, as are also the feathers of the 
hind-neck and mantle. The crown is clear chromium-green, instead of olive-green ; the 
superciliary is twice as broad and snow-white, instead of greenish buffy white. The most 
striking difference, however, is in the feathers of the upper rump and lower back. In 
P. torquatus these have a sub-terminal, oval, transverse, and narrow bar of green, then one of 
buffy grey, then a more or less interrupted one of black, and, lastly, a black longitudinal centre, 
with the pale space on each side vermiculated with black. In P. hagenbecki these feathers have 
a creamy-white ground-colour, two green entire transverse sub-terminal bands, and then two 
smoky-black transverse bars across the middle portion of the feather. This gives the lower 
back and rump a much more mottled appearance in P. hagenbecki, which has also the lower and 
greater wing coverts clearer blue-grey. The front of the neck and the sides are oily green, instead 
of purplish blue washed with oily green. Wing, 26 cm. (\o\ inches); tail, 51 cm. (21$ inches). 
Hab., Kobdo Valley, NW. Mongolia." 
Large numbers of these beautiful Pheasants were imported to the London market 
in April 1903. They are somewhat larger than torquatus, and would be a very 
desirable addition to our coverts if introduced in sufficient numbers. 
Sub-species of P. colchicus 
THE MONGOLIAN PHEASANT 
Phasianus colchicus mongolicus (Brandt) 
Adult Male. — Throat, bronze-red shot with purple — a very broad white ring almost 
surrounds the neck, but does not meet in front ; mantle, chest, and breast, orange-red, 
glossed with purple, carmine, and rich green ; rump, maroon, glossed with green and 
purple ; breast and flanks tipped with dark green ; scapulars, orange-red, overshot with 
green ; crown, greenish bronze, with a beautiful violet sheen. 1 A noticeable feature 
1 This sheen seems to increase with age. 
