PTIASIANITS SCEMMEREINGI, v a e . SCI XTI LEANS.
PHASIANUS SCINTILLANS, Gould, Annals & Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xvii. 3rd ser. p. 150.—Id. B. of Asia, pt. xix. pi.
Hab. Yokohama ; Nagasaki. -
T h is beautiful variety of the well-known Semmerring’s Pheasant is becoming rather common in Europe, and may be seen in almost
every zoological garden. I am not aware.that it lias ever bred in captivity; and i t would be most interesting to discover
whether the young would resemble the true-plumaged bird, or those of the present, style. Mr. Gould, in his work the ‘ Birds
of Asia,’ states that it only comes from Yokohama; but Mr. Heine, the artist attached to Commodore Perry’s expedition to Japan,
says that he procured P . Scemmerringi also at the same place. If, therefore, both forms are found together, we may naturally feel
considerable doubt about the claims of this bird to be deemed a species. I have never seen a female of this form; those shown
to me as such being unmistakably those of P . Scemmerringi. I f this were really a distinct species the females would also show
some differences, as there is no .species of this family known, 110 matter how closely it may resemble another, whose female has
not also some characteristic marks not observable in any other; and therefore If. may naturally be supposed that the' female of
this bird would also possess some variation in plumage which would render her recognizable from those o f the true species. Different
specimens vary greatly in their markings ; and I do not remember ever, to have seen two precisely alike.
Lately M. Renard has brought to Paris from Nagasaki two specimens o f P . Scemmerringi, which he himself shot out of the same
flock. They are both males. .One has the plumage usually seen in this species; but the other, which is now in my possession,
is a most interesting bird, from the fact that its ' dress is intermediate between the typical style and that of the variety here
represented. The tail, which is long and perfect, is marked like that shown in the Plate, though somewhat darker in colour^jMit
the body is that of true P . Scemmerringi, except that near the tail-coverts a few feathers only have commenced to exhibit the
white markings which in some individuals cause the variety to become so conspicuous. The locality where this bird was shot,
Nagasaki, shows that it is not confined to Yokohama; and the fact that the greater part of its plumage is. still; that of typical P .
Scemmerringi proves that it cannot be deemed a species, but merely exhibits the sffiannpr ih which the eccentric dress of the variety
is assumed. Doubtless this form is not uncommonly met with among flocks of P . Scemmerringi; but whether caused by age, or
extraneous influences, it is, of course, im p o ss ibR o state. M. Renard found Scemmerring’s Pheasant plentiful near Ooaka also.