The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24
Imported Pheasants.

Imported Pheasants.
The pheasants ordered from Eurone
for the stocking of game preserves in
this country recently arrived from Bre-
men, and are now in Hoboken. A num-
Der died on the way, and only $50 ar
rived in perfect condition. Ali of these
have been engaged in advance, and a
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 at 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 plumaoe
of the males somewhat bedraggled. As
they have by this time learned that thew
cannot fly away at the approach of a
stranger, they do the next best thing
that presents itself to pheasant's mind
and turn to fight A finger incautiously
poked into their prison is very liable to
have piece of skin nipped off by their
sharp bills, as promptly as if the birds
were vicious parrots.
The males are magnificently beautiful
birds. The head and neck of the adult
male isiof deep steel blue color, shot
with greenish purple and brown change
able tints. Around the brilliant hazel
eyes are patches of scarlet skin, thicklv
speckled with blue-black dottings, The
upper part of the back is covered viii
light golden red feathers, each tipped
with ebony black, and the rest of the
back is of the same golden red with
brown markings, shading back to light
igoid color. The quill feathers of the
wings are of varying shades of brown
and the tail feathers are of rich brown,
bearing purple reflections on the outer
web and barred with Jet black The
breast and front of theabdomen are red,
with purplish CLEANS, diversified by the
black edgings 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 pounds.
The females are slightly smaller, seldom
more than two feet long and weigh a
little less than the males.
Mr.. Reiche says: 'It is mistake to
suppose, as many do, that pheasants are
delicate birds. They have been coddled
a 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 big for
pheasant to swallow. They are ALWAYS
very wild birds, but do not fly much.
When at liberty and alarmed they trust
to their swiftness in running and their
cunning in evading observation by dodg-
ing among underbrush rather than to.
fight. They have great tendency to
mate with birds of other species.
Hybrids 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 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, up 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 retres
to his branch. The cock gets so puzzled
at this mode of fighting chat 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 "chicken Disputes in this coun.
try, and it is atfirmedthat certain strains
Of Irish game chickens derive excellence
from the strain of pheasant blood.-N.