THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series.—-V ol. I.—No. 6. —All rights reserved. JUNE, 1936.



THE GLITTERING COPPER PHEASANT


(Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans)


By J. Delacour.


The Copper Pheasants of Japan are divided into two well-marked

groups : the cocks from Hondo, the main island, and the northern

parts of Shikoku, have most of their feathers bordered with white,

like the specimen depicted on the adjoining plate, while more to the

south a more uniformly red bird is found. But in certain localities of

southern Hondo and Shikoku, both forms are found, with innumerable

intermediates. The two greatest authorities on the subject, Prince

Taka-Tsukasa and Dr. N. Kuroda, differ in their opinion on these

Pheasants : the former considers that there are two species which

produce wild hybrids, while the second thinks that they all con¬

stitute forms of One species, with many geographical races. We

cannot discuss this point here, and as far as aviculture is concerned, we

can be satisfied with the existence of three distinct birds, the Glittering,

Scemmerring’s, and Ijima’s Copper Pheasants. Copper Pheasants are

related to the other long-tailed species, and particularly to Reeves’

Pheasant ; but not so closely as it might be believed, as hybrids between

them prove infertile, thus showing that deep differences must exist.

Although hardy and laying well in captivity, Copper Pheasants remain


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