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NATURAL HISTORY. 
53. It comes next to the peacock in point of 
beauty of plumage. The head and neck are of a 
darkish-green ; the breast, back, and sides, darkish, 
with purple-tinged eyes, and streaks of gold. The 
eyes are surrounded with a circle of bright scarlet, 
with black spots. The tail is eighteen inches long. 
The most beautiful of the species is the Golden 
Pheasant of China. 
54. History tells us that when Crresus was seated 
on his throne, with regal magnificence, lie asked 
Solon, “ if he ever beheld any thing so fine ?” The 
Greek philosopher, unmoved by the pageantry around 
him, replied, “ that after having seen the beautiful 
plumage of the Pheasant, no other finery could as- 
tonish his sight.” 
55. The flesh of the Pheasant is esteemed a great 
delicacy, and such is the avidity with which they are 
hunted, that they are prevented from multiplying. 
The female lays about twenty eggs. 
THE GUINEA FOWL. 
56. The Guinea Fowl was originally a native of 
What is said of its beauty ? What anecdote is related of Croe- 
sus and Solon 1 How is its flesh esteemed 1 
