The Prince of Wales's Pheasant 105 
The spring crow of P. mongolicus is much shriller than in P. colcltkus, in some 
individuals being almost a whistle. 
They also have a note other than the spring call, different from all other Pheasants — 
this is a sort of loud, sharp cluck ; all through the winter one may hear the cocks 
uttering this call. 
Sub-species of P. colchicus 
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S PHEASANT 
Phasianus colchicus principalis (Sclater). 
Adtdt Male. — The head and neck very similar to P. colchicus, but ear-tufts nearly 
absent ; rump, bronze-red ; there is no purple gloss on the rump, lower back, and 
upper tail-coverts. The chest and breast feathers, a rich golden-red, are tipped with 
purple and green. Like the Mongolian Pheasant, the wing coverts are white, and form 
a distinct contrast to the rest of the dark plumage. Total length, 35 in. ; wing, 9.4 in. ; 
tail, 21.5 in. ; tarsus, 2.7 in. 
As a rule, this sub-species is dark-necked, but pure-bred birds often exhibit slight 
traces of a white colour. 
Adult Female. — Very similar to the female of P. c. ckrysomelas, but with darker 
breast spots on the chest. It is a paler bird than P. colchicus, the general colour, 
exclusive of dark markings, being a pale sandy buff with rufous mantle. 
Distribution. — The habitat of this Pheasant is North-western Afghanistan and 
North-eastern Persia. The first skins were exhibited by Dr. Sclater at the Zoological 
Society in April 1885. They belonged to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and came from 
Bala Murghab, North Afghanistan, having been obtained by members of the Afghan 
Delimitation Commission. Mr. O. Grant gives 1 the following interesting note on this 
sub-species, quoting Dr. J. E. T. Aitchison : — 
"The specimens of this pheasant were all got on the banks of the Bala Murghab, where it 
occurs in considerable numbers in the tamarisk and grass jungle growing in the bed of the 
river. More than four hundred were killed on the march of thirty miles up this river. It not 
only wades through the water in trying to make from one point of vantage to another, but 
swims, and seems to be quite at home in these thickets, where there is always water to the 
depth of two or three feet. These swampy localities afford good shelter. In the mornings 
and evenings the pheasants leave it for the more open and dry country, where they pick up 
their food. I believe the same species is found on the Hari-rud river, but I have seen no 
specimens from that locality." 
The Prince of Wales's Pheasant has been imported in considerable numbers to 
the Leadenhall Market. Game-rearers have been successful in introducing this fine 
bird to English coverts, where it has proved quite hardy and prolific. Colonel M. 
1 Game Birds, vol. ii. pp. 16-17. 
O 
