P. Schmidt—A Pheasant which should have a Great Future 19



A PHEASANT WHICH SHOULD HAVE A

GREAT FUTURE


By P. Schmidt


The Dark Golden Pheasant (Thaumalea picta var. ohscura)


Though it was known already before the War that there exists

a beautiful colour-variation of the Golden Pheasant (Thaumalea

picta) and the Dark Golden Pheasant ( Th . picta var. ohscura ), the

great majority of bird keepers and lovers are not aware of the

existence of this bird.


So, as the dark variety of the Golden Pheasant is known only in

a small circle of bird lovers, I think my fellow aviculturists will

be glad if I give a short description, as follows :—


The colours of the adult cock are roughly the same as those of

its ordinary relation, but every colour is much brighter and darker ;

its cheeks and throat are black, and the tail, unlike that of the

ordinary Golden cock’s net-like design, is provided with wavy cross

stripes. Under the throat a greenish-yellow spot is to be seen, right

down to the crop region. The chief colour of the hen is chocolate

brown, with black spots and stripes as in the ordinary Golden hen.

The colour of the feet of both sexes is olive greenish-brown, but one

may come across some yellow-greenish-footed specimens too. All the

so-called Dark Golden Pheasants, which do not correspond to this

description, are not real, being either ordinary birds or mixtures

of ordinary and dark-colour variations and, as such, quite worth¬

less. As most people do not know the bird and so may send off

a wrong consignment in the best faith, the necessary precaution

should be taken on the part of the buyer.


When newly-hatched the chicks of the Dark Golden Pheasant can

easily be distinguished from chicks of the normal type, isasmuch

the down of the chicks is dark brown, the throat having a light, pale

spot, which later disappears.


Some mistaken ideas exist as to the origin of the Golden

Pheasant’s dark variation, some contending that it is due to the

intersection of some Colchicus species. But those who have kept

pheasants, and know to a certain extent the laws of crossing, will be



