The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-24
Imported Pheasants.

The pheasants ordered from Europe
for the stocking of game preserves in
this country recently arrived from Bre-
men, and are now in Iloboken. A num-
Der died on the way, and only 100 ar
rived in perfect condition. All of these
have been engaged in advance, and
new supply has been ordered. The birds
came in crates, each about three feet
deep by four feet long, and nine inches
high. The tops of the crates are made
of canvas, to prevent them hurting them
selves by attempts al flight in moments
of alarm Each crate Is divided into
four compartments. IN each of which
there are four birds. The space is too
small, and in consequence Of their
cramped quarters the pheasants have
been much shorn of their beauty, their
long and handsome tail feathers having
been broken and the splendid plumage
of the males somewhat bedraggled. As
they have by this time learned that they
cannot fly away at the approach of
stranger, they do the next best thing
| that presents itself to pheasants mind.
and turn TO fight. finger incautiously
poked into their prison is very liable to
have piece OF skin nipped off by their
sharp bills, rs promptly as if the birds
were vicious parrots.
The males are maSniticently beautiful
birds. The head and neck of the adult
male is of a deep steel blue color, shot
with greenish purple and brown change
able tints. Around the brilliant hazel
eyes are patches of scarlet skin, thiekly
speckled with blue-bla dottings. The
| 4 -
light golden red feathers, each tipped
with ebony black, and the rest of the
back Is of the same golden red with
brown lrkngs, shading buck TO a light
gold color. The quill feathers OF the
wings are of varying shades of brown
and the tail feathers are of rich brown,
beaf.ng purple reflections on the outer
web and barred with jet black. The
breast and front of the abdomen are red.
with purplish CLEANS, diversified by the
black cdgings of the feathers The fe-
males are of sober pale yellowish
brown. When in full feather and con
dition the males are about three feet
| long, and weigh from four to five poun l..
| The females are slightly smaller, seldom
more than two feet long and weigh
little less than the males.
Mr.. Reiche says: at is mistake to
suppose, as many do, that pheasants are
delicate birds. They have been coddled
good deal in England. particularly in
the matter Of breeding, their eggs being
by many breeders Matched under domes-
tic hens, and the young raised in coops
until they are able to take care of them
selves. That precaution, however, is
mainly to save them from the many en-
amies of the young birds and the eggs,
and not because the birds are delicate
There is no doubt that they will do per
fectly well here, and be an inestimable
addition to our list of game birds.
! When Young and reared in coops
they are fed on ants eggs, grubs,
grits, and such food, but when full
grown their appetite accommodates it.
self to almost anything that grows, or
crawls, or flies, that is not too bic for
pheasant to swallow They are always
very wild birds, but do not fly much.
! When at liberty and alarmed they trust
| to their swftness in running and their
cunning in evading observation by dodg-
ing among underbrush rather than to.
! fight They have great tendency to
| lllillb Will bildS VI OtIBl NletltS.
Hybrds between them and the common
hen are not at all uncommon, and they
have been known to mate with the
grouse, guinea fowl and even the turkey.
Nothing distinguishes them more than
their pugnacity. They are great fighters,
and where they come in contact with
the common barn-yard cock are seldom
able to resist the temptation to a battle.
An old writer upon these birds men
tons this popularity and says: "The
pheasant often gets the better of the
combat in such encounters by its irregu
lar mode of proceeding. After making
two or three strokes, mp goes the pleas
ant into tree to breathe awhile, leaving
the cock looking about for his antagonist
Presently, while his opponent is still be-
wildered, down comes the pheasant
again, makes another stroke, and retires
to his branch. The cock gets so puzzled
at this mode of fighting that he often
yields the point.
In some countries pheasants are
trained for fighting, and large sums of
money are wagered upon their combats
as upon ''chcken disputes in this coun-
try, and it is affirmed that certain strains
of Irish game chickens derive excellence
from the strain of pheasant blood. N
Y. Sun.