The GOLDEN PHEASANT (_Thaumalea picta_) is most gorgeously apparelled,
with a bright golden crest upon its head, and a rich orange-red collar,
in which each feather is edged with deep velvety black; the feathers of
the mantle are golden green, bordered with black, those on the lower back
and upper tail-covers bright yellow, and those on the face, chin, and
sides of throat whitish yellow. The lower neck and under side are a deep
saffron-yellow, the wing-covers chestnut-brown, the quills greyish brown,
edged with rust-red, the shoulder-feathers dark blue, with light borders,
and most of those of the tail decorated with a black network tracery;
the long, centre feathers of the upper covers are dark red, the eye is
golden yellow, the beak whitish yellow, and the foot brownish. The male is
thirty-two inches long and twenty-five broad, the wing measures eight and
the tail twenty-two inches. The plumage of the hen is deep rust-red above,
shading on the under side into a mixture of red, grey, and yellow; the
feathers on the top of the head, throat, and sides, upper secondaries, and
centre tail-feathers are striped brownish yellow and black, and the side
tail-feathers brown, marked with yellowish grey. A very similar species
lately discovered, and called _Thaumalea obscura_, is distinguishable from
the above species, which in other respects it closely resembles, by the
comparative darkness of its plumage during all its various changes, and by
the inferior length of the tail-feathers.
The Golden Pheasant inhabits Southern Tauria and the eastern part of
the desert of Mongolia, advancing in summer up to the Amoor, and also
the provinces of Kansu and Setschun in the interior of China, whence,
Mr. Swinhoe tells us, living examples are brought into Canton for sale.
Latham says that this bird is called in China _Kinki_, or _Kinkee_,
which signifies Gold-flower Fowl, or Wrought Fowl. It is a hardy bird,
and many pairs have been turned loose in our own country with the hope
of naturalising it, but unfortunately they have all been shot. According
to Gould it bears confinement well, and breeds freely. The sexes change
considerably in appearance, and some hens kept for six years by Lady Essex
gradually assumed the male feathers.
[Illustration: THE CHINESE EARED PHEASANT (_Crossoptilon auritum_).]