194 
RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 
taken. The female also differs in her lesser size, and 
comparative length of the tail. The ground colour 
of the plumage is brown. There are no dark spots 
upon the breast, and the barring of the tail is very 
distinctly marked ; but what Temminck has observed 
to be the principal distinction in the female, is a little 
band of thick and black feathers, which runs a short 
way under each eye, and which he thinks is wanting 
in the other. 
The common pheasant does not much differ in its 
markings from those of the mixed breed we are ac- 
customed to see, except in the entire want of the 
ring, and the peculiar tint upon the head and rump, 
but it is longer by five or six inches than the other, 
extending to three feet. 
Of the habits of these birds in a natnral state, we 
know little in reality, but have no reason to doubt 
their similarity to those exhibited in our own coun- 
try ; and the deep matted jungles of India, particu- 
larly where water abounds, must be their favourite 
resort. In their naturalized state, woods with a thick 
undergrowth of brush, brambles, long grass, &c. and 
interspersed with open glades, which some little 
stream refreshes, and the sun enlivens, are their de- 
light during the day, and whence they run morning 
and evening to the open skirts, where some favourite 
food abounds. It is in their way to such feeding 
ground, that they are so easily secured by unqua- 
lified persons, for, never taking flight unless dis- 
turbed, they run and thread their way through these 
