III. SILVER PHEASANT.

History. This variety, which is said to be the most powerful of its tribe, is a native of the northern provinces of China, whence it has been imported into various parts of Europe. It was first noticed in this country by Albin, about the year 1737, when it was figured in his work under the name of the "Black and White China Pheasant,"—by which it is sometimes designated by recent writers.

Description. In size the Silver is generally described as being less than the common variety,although, from our own observation and inquiries, we should say that it is certainly quite as long and large: the plumage when young is of a russet grey or fawn colour, clouded or indistinctly shaded with brown, the under-parts being a creamy white; but in the adult bird the colours become clear white and black. The head is surmounted with a loose tuft of glossy purple-black feathers, and the throat, breast, and under-parts are of a rich metallic blue-black; the back of the neck clear white; so also the back and wings, though likewise pencilled or shaded diagonally with black. The tail is long and convex, or rounded at the commencement; it consists of long plumes arched upwards, -the two upper feathers being marked in a similar manner to the back, and the two middle ones

are long and flat, and entirely white. The eye is surrounded by a skinny substance, of large size, and of similar texture to that described on the Common Pheasant; but in this variety it is more developed, extending over the eyes almost like an incipient comb, and drooping below as a small wattle. The legs are of bright lake shade, and furnished with sharp white spurs. The female is much smaller than the male; the feathered crest on the head scanty, and of a deep brown hue; the eyes encircled with the peculiar tissue of velvetlike filaments, but in a much less degree; tail shorter, considerably less elevated, and straighter, the central feathers brownish, and the lateral black and white; throat feathers of a creamy shade, and the neck and under-parts dusky white and brown with irregular bars of black; the lower part of the back of the neck, with the back itself, and the wings, a grey, streaked with brown and (more delicately) black.

IV. GOLD PHEASANT.

History. Like the preceding, this variety inhabits the forests of China, where they are in great number. They are there called "GoldFlower Fowl." In Europe they are tolerably well known, especially in Germany, where they are rather extensively reared. In England, it would appear, from Albin's work, that they had

been imported some time previous to the year 1735, as that writer then depicted some birds evidently of that kind, under the name of the "Red Pheasant from China," and before this, if known, they were passed over by Aldrovandi and other old authors. Cuvier suggests that this, the most gaily and splendidly attired of its kind, was the origin of the fabulous creation of the Phoenix among the ancients.

Description.-In size this is fully one-third less than the Silver; the length never extending beyond 2 feet 8 inches, of which the magnificent tail takes off nearly 2 feet. Upon the head is a rather full and high crest of loose plume-like feathers of a bright yellow shade, terminating in a point and drooping back, somewhat after the fashion of the cap worn by the ancient jester or Merry Andrew; the eyes encircled by the skinny wattles peculiar to the pheasant, but in this variety of a livid hue; throat and neck clothed entirely round in a cape or lappet of expanded and elongated feathers, resembling the hackle feathers of the common cock, but truncated or cut off square at the ends; the feathers are of a brilliant orangered colour, striped and variegated with black, very much like the double flower of some marigold plants; lower front part of the neck, with the under and hinder parts, of a rich, resplendent scarlet or crimson, deepening in shade as it descends; the bottom part of the back of the neck a

bright or emerald green delicately tipped with black: back and saddle a rich deep yellow; from the latter the feathers droop on either side of the tail, resembling hackles, but stiff and almost horny in substance; upon the shoulders steel-blue and metallic shades; greater and lesser coverts of wings of a deep brown spotted and marked with darker; the tail feathers are broad, folded together and slightly bowed or arched in the middle,—the colour on the upper portion being a very dark brown, striated and rather minutely marked with black, and the under short feathers of a "cinnamon "colour, as it is sometimes termed; the legs long, slender, and a dull yellow shade. The female is smaller, has more elongated feathers upon the head, which she has the power of raising something like a crest, the plumage throughout of a rich deep brown shade (the throat and underparts rather lighter) barred with regular black bands; tail short (comparatively) and presenting similar markings on the same ground as the body colour. When young the Gold Pheasants possess none of the beautiful plumage of the adult birds, and indeed are scarcely recognisable, the plumage being of a streaky yellowish fawn colour.

In addition to those above described the following varieties of the Pheasant tribe are mentioned by various writers:

DIARD'S PHEASANT (Phas. Versicolor). A

native of Japan, and first noticed by Mr. Diard, after whom it is named: plumage of a bright golden green size larger by 6 or 8 inches than the common variety.

BARRED-TAILED PHEASANT. A native of the sunny mountains of Surinagur, and of the confines of the Chinese empire; about the size of the Silver Pheasant, but with a tail said to vary 2 feet. in length up to 7 feet! The plumage a golden yellow and black.

SEMMERING'S PHEASANT. A native of Japan; nearly similar in size to Diard's variety: the plumage of a rich copper bronze or reddish brown, marked with black.

LADY AMHERST'S PHEASANT. Only known from two specimens presented by the king of Ava to Lady Amherst: it is a crested variety, rather larger than the Common Pheasant, and of beautifully variegated colours.

Some writers speak of the "Peacock Pheasant from China," the "Black and White," and "Pied" Pheasants, but of these no account is given, and it is probable that they belong to one or other of the varieties already enumerated. In the month of December, 1853, a very fine male Pheasant, of perfectly white plumage, was shot in the neighbourhood of Botham: the beautiful bird, with three others of similar plumage, had long been accustomed to visit the residences of J. H.

P