Reeves's Pheasant 107 
dark green shot with purple, the feathers being marked with concentric lines of pale 
buff. The rump is greenish slate colour. A slate tint also extends through the long 
feathers of the tail. The neck is bright blue ; ear-tufts, green ; forehead and crown, 
purplish green ; back and scapulars, chestnut ; primaries, brown, with whitish bars ; 
tertiaries, brown, with grey flecks ; irides, yellowish hazel ; bill, bone colour. Total 
length, 29 in. ; wing, 9.6 in. ; tail, 17.5 in. ; tarsus, 2.7 in. 
Adult Female. — Darker than the Common Pheasant, with' all the markings 
stronger ; upper surface, blackish brown, edged with buff and chestnut ; some suffusions 
of green on head and neek. Primaries and secondaries, brown, strongly barred with 
buff; tertiaries, dark brown, edged with buff on the inner webs, and with chestnut on 
the outer webs. Tail, dark brown, mottled with buff and black about the edges of the 
feathers. Throat, buff, and under surface of the body buff, with strong arrow-headed 
markings. 
Distribution. — The Japanese Pheasant is only found in the islands of Japan (with 
the exception of Yezo). The first were brought to Europe in 1840, and a pair found 
their way into the celebrated collection of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley. Subse- 
quently large numbers have been imported into this country, where it is used for 
crossing with other Pheasants. 
There is a general consensus of opinion that pure Japanese Pheasants are not a 
success in our islands. They do not breed with the regularity of other Pheasants, 
and are not sufficiently hardy. In Scotland and the North of England the damp 
cold in spring is fatal to many. On the other hand, the first cross with the Mon- 
golian, Chinese, or Common Pheasant invariably produce birds of the highest class in 
every respect, larger than either of the parents. I have seen a first cross Japanese and 
Chinese Pheasant that weighed 5! lbs., killed in Norfolk in 1903. 
The general habits of the Japanese Pheasant are very similar to those of the Com- 
mon Pheasant. The spring crow is, however, quite distinct from the typical species, or 
its other allied forms. It is shriller, sharper, and more strained — seeming somewhat 
of an effort on the part of the bird. In the spring at roosting-time they keep calling 
repeatedly almost like a Peacock. 
REEVES'S PHEASANT 
Phasiamts reevesil, Gray 
Little need be said of this magnificent species of Pheasant, for it has never become 
a general favourite in our islands, owing to the fact that only limited areas are suit- 
able to its habits and disposition. Moreover, with the exception of occasional crosses, 
the results of which are always infertile males of a bellicose nature, it does not breed 
with other species. It is, too, of such a warlike disposition in spring that all other 
Pheasants quickly give it a wide berth, and if the coverts are small it will soon 
drive away its more peaceful neighbours. Armed with spurs of unusual length and 
