1 ¡ É )
T h e P h ea fa n t. Phaiìanus."
Numb. XXV, XXVI.
Il l f l l f the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is 36 Inches; Breadth
of the Wings when extended 33 Inches; they differ in Weight according as thev
are fatter and leaijer j their common Weight is 45 Ounces when in Fleih, fome more
iome Jefs ; the Bill, like thofe of other granivorous Birds, from the Tip to the Angles of
•the Mouth an Inch and three Quarters long, in old Birds whit ¡ill ; it hath on both Sides a
f -, roUS.Membra?e> by which k is above joined, to the Head, under which
the Npftnls are as it were hid ; the Irities of the Eyes yellow ; a red fcarlet Colour powdered
with black Specks compaffes the Eye round for a good Breadth ; in the fore Part
m # Head- and at the Bafts of the upper Chap o f the Bfill the Feathers are black with
a kind of purple Glofs ; the Crown o f the Head and upper Part- of the Neck are dnitured
with a,datk green ihining like Silk,- whiçh is more dilute on the Crown of the Head
Thefe Colours make an agreeable Change of dark blue or green, according as the Light
mid Shade falls thereon. It hath on both Sides of the Head about the Ears Feathers
{ticking out like Horns ¡ there grow alio to the Ears in their lower Angle black Feathers
longer than the reff ; the Sides o f the Neck arid Throat are of a fhinïng purple Colour;
the Feathers under the Qhiri and at the Angles of the Mouth are. black With green Edges
dr Borders. 6
Below the green the reft of the Neck, the Breaft, Shoulders, Middle of the Back and
Sides under the Wings are clothed with moil beautiful Feathers, having their Bottoms
black and their Edges rinitured with a moli beautiful Colour, which, as it is diverily objected,
appears to the Light either black or purple ; next to the purple in each Feather is a
crofs Line or Bed of a moft fplendid gold Colour- bélow the Gold à fulvous Colour which
reaches as low as the black Bottom ; thè gold Colour is not immediately contiguous to
the fulvous, but divided by an intermediate narrow Line of a ihining purpliih ; on the
under Side of the Neck the Extremities of the Feathers are painted with a black Spot
t)f the Figure o f a Parabola ; the Shafts of all are fulvous ; the whole Bird is variegated
with thefe Colours darker and lighter, fome Feathers here and there having Spots and
Lines of white ; the two middlemoft Feathers of the Tail are 22 Inches long, having on
each Side 8 more which decreafe both in Length and Bignefs, the exterior being the
ihorteft and leaft ; they are of an olive Colour ; on the Sides ferrugineous with a caft of
green ; near the Shafts adorned with black Spots on each Side in the two longeft Feathers,
and on the others on the exterior Side only.
The Legs, Feet, Toes arid Claws are of a horn Colour; the Toes and Claws darker
than the Legs ; a thick Membrane connects the Toes, which is not found in any other
o f the pulveratricious Birds ; the Legs are arrned with Spurs ihort, fharp and black.
The Hen is not fo beautiful as the Cock, being almoft of the Colour of a Quail but
darker.
They live in the Woods and feed upon Acorns, Berries, Grains, Seeds and Infects, and
rather frequent the Coppice-woods, than where there are only Timber-trees.
All Authors give to the Pheafant, for the Goodnefs of his Fleih and delicate Tafte, the
firft Place at the Table among Birds, and is in high Efteem with great Perfonages;
it is better when killed by a Hawk than when ihot or otherwife taken, the Fleih being
more ihort and tender,