phasianus

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The typical genus of the family Phasianidæ and subfamily Phasianinæ, formerly nearly conterminous with the family, now restricted to such forms as Phasianus colchicus, the common pheasant, long domesticated in Europe. They have a much-lengthened tail, with long acuminate middle feathers, and the head crestless but provided with lateral tufts. At least 16 species are commonly referred to this genus (in several sections, ranked by some authors as genera). One of the most remarkable is P. (Syrmaticus) reevesi, of northern China, in which the tail reaches the maximum length of 5 or 6 feet. The plumage is beautifully varied with black, white, chestnut, and golden yellow. P. (Catreus) wallichi is the cheer, or Wallich's pheasant, of the Himalayas, with a long, broad tail and much-varied plumage. P. (Graphophasianus) soemmeringi is Sommering's pheasant, of Japan, with coppery-metallic plumage and very long tail. P. (Calophasis) ellioti is a gorgeously colored pheasant of the mountains near Ningpo, in China. Certain green-breasted pheasants, as P. versicolor of Japan and P. elegans of China, form a small group. Ring-necked pheasants, as P. insignia and P. mongolicus, have a white ring around the neck. The above-named approach more and more nearly to the ordinary pheasant as domesticated in Euvope, of which the Turkestan P. shawi is a near relative. The silver and golden pheasants, though long-tailed, are now placed in other genera (Euplocamus and Thaumalea). See further under pheasant.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. type genus of the Phasianidae: the typical pheasants