[200] Temminck says that the tail of the female Phasianus Sœmmerringii is only six inches long, ‘Planches coloriées,’ vol. v. 1838, p. 487 and 488: the measurements above given were made for me by Mr. Sclater. For the common pheasant, see Macgillivray, ‘Hist. Brit. Birds,’ vol. i. p. 118-121.
[201] Dr. Chapuis, ‘Le Pigeon Voyageur Belge,’ 1865, p. 87.
[202] Bechstein, ‘Naturgesch. Deutschlands,’ 1793, B. iii. s. 339.
[203] Daines Barrington, however, thought it probable (‘Phil. Transact.’ 1773, p. 164) that few female birds sing, because the talent would have been dangerous to them during incubation. He adds, that a similar view may possibly account for the inferiority of the female to the male in plumage.
[204] Mr. Ramsay, in ‘Proc. Zoolog. Soc.’ 1868, p. 50.
[205] ‘Journal of Travel,’ edited by A. Murray, vol. i. 1868, p. 78.
[206] ‘Journal of Travel,’ edited by A. Murray, vol. i. 1868, p. 281.
[207] Audubon, ‘Ornithological Biography,’ vol. i. p. 233.
[208] Jerdon, ‘Birds of India,’ vol. ii. p. 108. Gould’s ‘Handbook of the Birds of Australia,’ vol. i. p. 463.
[209] For instance, the female Eupetomena macroura has the head and tail dark blue with reddish loins; the female Lampornis porphyrurus is blackish-green on the upper surface, with the lores and sides of the throat crimson; the female Eulampis jugularis has the top of the head and back green, but the loins and the tail are crimson. Many other instances of highly conspicuous females could be given. See Mr. Gould’s magnificent work on this family.