190 
RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 
brane to the first joint. The hind toe is articulated 
upon the tarsus, which, in the males, is furnished 
with a strong conical sharp spur. The plumage of 
the male is generally of the most brilliant tints. In 
their habits, the Pheasants exhibit all the characters 
of the rasorial birds : they live on fruits and roots, 
and the larger seeds, are remarkably active upon the 
ground ; and though their short and concave wings 
prevent them from taking a long and sustained flight, 
their power is sufficient to carry them away from 
ordinary dangers ; while in the form of the tail and 
rump feathers, or upper tail-coverts, we find the same 
fulness which we have seen to be so extraordinarily 
developed in the peacock, turkey, and cocks. 
For our first illustration, and as typical of this 
group, we have selected the Common Pheasant, fa- 
miliar to every one, and universally admired, for 
the richness and beauty of his plumage. It is now 
generally admitted that the Pheasant was originally 
introduced into Europe from the banks of the Pha- 
sis *, a river in Chalchis in Asia Minor. The Greeks, 
in the ascent of the stream, were attracted by their 
beauty ; and the bird being so easily domesticated, 
a valuable addition to the luxury of themselves and 
the Romans was soon secured, and rapidly extended 
itself over the southern countries of Europe. They 
appeared at the expensive and superabundant repasts 
of the ancients, and for a time bore the palm for no- 
* Now the Rioni. 
