77 
Sir Emerson Tennent states that the Common Pea Fowl 
abounds to such an extent in the Island of Ceylon that its 
harsh cries at early morning are a great source of annoyance 
to the inhabitants. He also adds that the bird, as known in 
its domesticated state in other countries, gives but a very in¬ 
adequate idea of its size and magnificence when seen in its 
native forests. 
The true pheasants are indigenous to Asia and its islands; 
but the matchless beauty of their plumage, and the delicate 
quality of their flesh, have caused some of them to be largely 
introduced into Europe. The bird now known as the Eng¬ 
lish Pheasant (. Phasianus colchicus ) originally came from 
western Asia, and is believed to have been introduced into. 
England about the close of the tenth century. It has long; 
been perfectly naturalized, and is one of the most beautiful of 
the family. The Ring-necked Pheasant ( Phasianus torqua- 
tus ) has also long been domesticated in England, and bred 
largely with the Common Pheasant; most of the birds known 
as Ring-necked Pheasants are the result of such a cross, in- 
which the first-named bird seems to preponderate, the hybrids 
differing little in appearance from the original stock. Many 
of the pheasants have those feathers which lie immediately 
around the base of the tail—known as the upper tail coverts— 
immensely elongated, forming a large fan, like the train of the 
peacock, which they have the power to erect at will, thus ex¬ 
posing a surface of brilliant and beautiful coloring, which in 
many species is without parallel in the animal kingdom. 
These plumes are developed to this extent only in the males, 
and from the fact of their being displayed frequently in the 
presence of the female during the breeding season, it is 
supposed that they play an important part in attracting her at 
this period. 
The Silver Pheasant (. Euplocamus nycthemerus ) and the 
Golden Pheasant ( Thaumalea picta ) are natives of China, 
but have largely been acclimated elsewhere. 
The Grouse are an allied group, generally distributed 
throughout the northern hemisphere. A number of them 
are natives of America, where they are commonly, though 
erroneously, called Pheasant. 
The Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) and the Pinnated 
Grouse or Prairie Chicken ( Cupidonia cupido ) are two of 
the best known species. 
