THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series .—VoL II.—No. 4 .—All rights reserved. APRIL, 1937.



IJIMA’S PHEASANT


Syrmaticus ijimse

By J. Delacour


The gorgeous bird represented on the adjoining plate is altogether

the rarest and the most beautiful of the Copper Pheasants of Japan.

It lives in the south of Kyusiu Island, the north of which, as well as

the southern districts of Hondo, the main island (also called Nippon),

being the home of the true Soemmering’s Pheasant.


It is probably correct to consider Ijima’s Pheasant as a sub-species of

S. scemmeringii as the only difference between the two birds is the white

patch on the rump of the former, and there are many intermediate

between them, some specimens showing just a few spots. This white

patch has metallic silvery shine, unique in birds, I think.


I have possessed several Ijima’s Pheasants at Cleres, thanks to the

kindness of my Japanese friends, Prince Taka-Tsukasa and Dr. N.

Kuroda. They are just as strong as any other Copper Pheasants.

I still have a hen, and I hope to receive a cock soon, mine having died

last year after ten years in captivity. He was the father of many hybrids

with S. scintillans and S. reevesii.



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