C 268 '] 
XVII. On the change in the plumage of some Hen-Pheasants, 
By William Yarrell, Esq. F. L. S. Communicated by 
William Morgan, Esq. F, R. S., March 19, 1827. 
Read May 10,1827. 
TH E latter part of the last shooting season has been unusually 
productive of those hen-pheasants which assume, more or less, 
the appearance of the male, and considerable discussion has, 
in consequence, arisen as to the cause of this change in the 
plumage. 
Chance, rather than design, having supplied me with many 
opportunities of observation both on pheasants and the com¬ 
mon domestic fowl, I am induced to notice the internal pe¬ 
culiarities that have been observed invariably to accompany 
this change of feather, and such other circumstances as ap¬ 
pear connected with this subject, some of which I think will 
be found new and interesting. 
A Paper on this subject, by Mr. John Hunter, published 
in the 70th Volume of the Philosophical Transactions, and 
afterwards reprinted in his “ Animal Economy,” details the 
appearance of several female birds having the feathers of the 
male, in which account he is led to observe, that this change 
of character takes place at an advanced age of the animaPs 
life, and does not grow up with it from the beginning.” 
In the Third Volume of the Memoirs of the Wernerian 
Society, Mr. John Butter devotes a Paper to a consideration 
of the change which takes place in certain hen-birds at an 
