I also gave the last Stone (and this Common/Vernacular name) a try, an attempt ... (that actually turned out far, far longer than I expected, maybe too long, but bear with me), regarding:
• the West-central Chinese ssp. Stone's (Common) Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus elegans ELLIOT 1870, (
here), as "
Phasianus elegans":
It is to the exertions of Mr. Stone, who has succeeded in bringing to Europe many of the rarer species of this family, that we are indebted for the opportunity of being able to describe this new form.
In
A Monograph of the Phasianidae, from 1872 [Spectacularly illustrated by Joseph Smit (1836–1929)], by Daniel Giraud Elliot (
i.e. the Author/
Auctor himself) this bird was called "GREEN-BACK GOLDEN PHEASANT" (
here, and Plate
here).
As far as I can tell this Common/Vernacular name was coined by William Robert Ogilvie-Grant, in
A Hand-Book to the Game Birds, Vol. II, 1897 (
here), and again used in William Beebe's
A Monograph of the Pheasants, Vol. III (1922), even if there on a ssp. level (
here). It wasn't given any Common name in (the same) Ogilvie-Grant's
Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, Vol. 22 (
here), nor by Seebohm, in
The Ibis, of 1888 (
here).
One of the Type specimens (Syntype) is kept in the BNHM (here): "... presented by J. J. Stone." (
here), but I'm not so sure if he truly collected it, that is in Field, in China. He might simply have received it, from China, and kept it in his own collection, or Aviaries.
Though, nothing additional (absolutely nothing) on Mr. Stone himself in those (contemporary) texts. If his full name truly was "John J. Stone", as claimed by Beolens
et al. (2014) I cannot tell. It could be. Or not.
Though, it sure looks like it by the Paper in Martin's post #7 (posted while I was busy typing this one this one) ...
He could (very well) equally be the "late Mr. John J. Stone" mentioned by William Bernhard Tegetmeier, in his
Pheasants : their natural history and practical management, from 1897 (on page 103,
here), and if so I would expect that he could be (or could have been) found in the vicinity of "Scyborwen" (wherever that is)?
But I think he actually is "our guy", as he's mentioned again (even if there about 'Reeves's Pheasant') as:
The successful introduction of the living birds now in England is owing to the combined efforts of the late Mr. John J. Stone and ...
[... ]
For several years Mr. Stone made continuous efforts to obtain this and other new pheasants from Northern China, but with no satisfactory results until ...
[Page 179]
The late Mr. J. J. Stone, to whom naturalists are so much indebted for his introduction of this and other splendid Pheasants.
[Page 181]
Could he have been living and keeping his dear Pheasants in Wales (somewhere "on the Welsh Hills", as of
this phrase, from the same book) ... ?
Though, it might be hard to find a Stone on a Hill, or in any Hills ...
However, see
here, where the same location is somewhat more specified or defined, as: "Scyborwen, near Monmouth".
Though:
Disclaimer: In John Gould's
Birds of Asia, Vol VII, again about the Reeves's Pheasant (also commenting, and quoting, Tegetmeier) we're told [my
bold/
blue]:
I am greatly indebted to James J. Stone, Esq., of Scyborwen, Llantrissent, for his kindness in submitting to my inspection examples of this and many other fine Pheasants when they unfortunately die in his aviary.
And, note that Gould didn't indicate him as being "late" in this text. As Gould's
Birds of Asia was published in seven volumes, "1850–1883" (originally in 35 parts, 1849–1883), completed by Richard Bowdler Sharpe, and, as the quote above appeared in the very last of those seven volumes we
might assume that Mr. Stone had passed, at some point, between 1883 and 1897.
However, it might not be that easy, according to the "List of Plates" No.33 "
Phasianus Reevesii . . Reeves's Pheasant", this Plate was originally published in "April, 1869", which if the text was published at the same time, of course, would explain why Gould didn't (or even couldn't) mention him as late, though on the other hand, if the entire text also was published in 1869 it would be tricky to understand how Gould (who died in 1881) could be commenting on Tegetmeier's later work? Or was it possibly Bowdler Sharpe who 'updated' an older MS text by Gould, when compiling/concluding/completing this major Work, prior to the closing, final publication. Who knows?
Is this yet another case of a James 'John' ... or was Gould maybe, possibly "indebted" to his Son/heir? Or did Gould. or even Bowdler Sharpe, got his first given name wrong? Like I just wrote it: who knows?
Either way; hopefully some of this could be of some use, or help, (for anyone keener) in trying to find this seemingly unknown Aviculturist, if any further attempts will be done, of course, to pin-point "our guy"; Mr. J. J. Stone, "of Scyborwen, Llantrissent".
Either way; that's about all I can find on this guy (and "his" elegant/common Pheasant), I will leave him there "near Monmouth".
Probably it's this place; "Llantrisant / Llantrisaint Fawr (Monmouthshire)". (as of
here or/alt.
here).
Good luck finding his whereabouts! And his true (full) name.
Björn
PS. Also consider; there's a "
Stone John Jefferies, Esq., Scyborwen Llantrissent, Newport", listed in
Directory for Monmouthshire—Monmouth (on p.35), though from what year I cannot tell (link lost, see
attached JPG, undated).
Looks like his wife was Mary Mulready (who died in 1878 "April 26, ...aged 58 years",
here).
And; in the
Liverpool Mercury, for September 20, 1879 (
Note: unseen by me, in full) there seem to be a note of: "Mr.
John Jeffries Stone, J.P., late of
Scyborwen, in the parish of
Llantrissent, Monmouthshire, of Ashton villa, Wickham-road, Deptford, and ... ", though, this far, no connection found between that certain (full) name, to Aviculture or Natural History. But I wouldn't be surprised if he's the guy we're looking for. Fingers crossed. Good luck.
Now I'm done!
/B
