\ 
532 Mr. hunter’s Account of 
This, however, does not appear to be a principle the 
addon of which takes place at the firft formation of the 
animal, fo as to grow up with it, but appears to be one 
of thofe adlions which take place, perhaps, at certain 
periods of life, fimilar to many common and natural 
phenomena; like to what is obferved of the horns of the 
Hag, which differ at different ages; or to the mane of the 
lion, which does not grow till after his fifth year, &c. 
This change has been obferved in feme of the bird 
tribe, but principally in the common pheafant. 
It is remarked by thofe who are converfant with this 
bird, when wild, that there appears every now and then 
a hen pheafant with the feathers of the cock; and all 
that they have decided on this fubjedl is, that this animal 
does not breed, and that its fpurs do not grow. Some 
years ago one of thefe was fent to Dr. hunter, who 
gave me leave to examine it. I found, upon examina- 
tion, that it had all the parts of the female peculiar to 
that bird. This fpecimen is ftill preferved in Dr. hun- 
ter’s Mufeum. 
Dr. PiTGAiRN, having lately received a pheafant of this 
kind from Sir thomas Harris, exhibited it as a curiofity 
to Mr. banks and Dr. solander. I happened to be then 
prefent, and was defired to examine the bird. The fol- 
lowing is the refult of my examination. 
I found 
