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PHASIANIDiE. 
R A SORES. 
PIIA SI A NIDjE. 
PHEASANT. 
Phasianus colchicus. 
PLATE LXVIIT. 
The Pheasant is too well known to need much de¬ 
scription. It breeds throughout the country in May and 
June, and lays its eggs upon the ground in woods and 
plantations amongst the underwood; under the cut 
branches of trees, and in the long grass; sometimes also 
in hedge-rows, and occasionally in the open fields: they 
are from ten to fourteen in number, and nearly round; 
they are most commonly of the colour of the plate, but 
frequently much lighter. From the near approach of 
the Pheasant to domestication, the eggs are subject to 
the same strange and whimsical forms seen in those of 
our common fowls. I possess some very remarkable 
deformities of this kind, obligingly sent me by the Hon. 
Mrs. Liddle; one in particular, which is cylindrical, about 
two inches and a half long, and an inch and a half in 
diameter. 
