Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-08-31
M0NG0LIAN PHEASARTS.
REMARKABLE CONFLICT OF TESTIMONY
ABOUT THEM.
1t is Agreed That They Do Not Lie to
the Dog, But Are Gamy
Birds.

Since it was first proposed by the Fish
Commissioners to import some of the Mon.
golian pheasants, great deal of discussion
has arisen as to the characteristics of these
birds, and the attention of sportsmen all
over the coast has been attracted by it.
The Breede, and Sportsman prints two let
ters from Corvallis, Or, which are singu-
larly contradictory. the only points upon
which the writers agree being that the
Mongolian pheasant does not lie to the
dog, but runs under cover. The subject is
of sufficient interest to warrant the publ
cation of the letters in full They are as
follows:
Editor Breeder and Sportsman Your val
uable paper reached me yesterday, and |
carefully note letters from J. T. Bowditch,
George II. Burnett and Harry Klippel.
Now, since my last letter to you | have
made careful study of the Mongolian
pheasant, and have had the opinions and
experiences of our several local sportsmen.
Mr.. 4. Job and the writer have spent a
part of most every day since July 18th in
the field, and we had good opportunity to
note the habits Of this bird, and we know
from what we have seen that they are far
from being d game bird Mr. Job hunts
over fine Sensation pointer, and | have
the pleasure of hunting over a fine LleWel-
lyn setter, Romeo, who has in his veins
the blood Of Ripple, Nellie, Old Belton,
Fannie, Count Derby, Jessica, Count No
bic. There have been over 10000 game
birds killed over Romeo-California quail,
Bob White, ruffed grouse, woodeock, snipe
and prairie chickens. The owner has
hunted in California, Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire, Indian Territory and Oregon.
and ought to know by this time what
makes game bird, and will any sports
man agree that a bird is game that will
skulk and then run in cover mile unless
chased by wild-running dog and flushed
hundred Of yards away? | have seen
Sport and Romeo make hundreds of beau
tiiui points, then road and point for sew
eral hundred yards, when up would go a
pheasant from one to three hundred yards
away, and if this kind of bird won't make
dog unsteady what will? Then again,
what sportsman wants to run several hun
dred yards at the top of his speed to keep
up with fast-running dog for the sake of
firing two loads at a pheasant sixty or
eighty yards away?
The cry among our sportsmen is, kill
the China pheasant; away with him, and
let Us have our grouse, our quail and our
rutied grouse, as we used to have them,
and then, when our dogs make point, we
shall have the pleasure of seeing a game
bird take wing. Now about the cock bird
taking charge of the young after Matching,
to let the hen lay her second litter? !
believe this to be all bosh, for Mr. job and
myself have seen hundreds of coyevs with
from three to twenty-five in a covey, and
from the size of chicks lust hatched to
full grown, and not IN a single instance
have we ever seen the old cock bird with
the young, but most always the hen bird
was with them; but we have found the
cock bird since the season opened in the
hills among the oaks, or in thick cover,
but always alone When | came TO this
valley | heard such q report among the
farmers that the cock bird raised the
young, but il such is the case cannot find
one sportsman in this valley that has seen
the cock bird with the young. Within
the past few days | have seen several
coveys of pheasants but few days old and
in every case the hen bird was with them.
As to raising them by the domestic hen
being a failure, this is another mistake, as
there are several fine broods in this town
hatched and raised by common hen.
Mr.. F. DeNevin has one brood and Mr.. J.
Horning has fine brood nearly full grown
and quite tame. Some of the farmers are
getting sick of them, as they destroy lots
~ l.oNr of on fy,eNn NJ rl,.
scratch like domestic hen, and the ground
around will be covered with wheat. I
know what that old sportsman, J. K. Orr,
would say after seeing this birds habits;
THE beggar, he can teach road-runuer
how to get out of a quarter section" As /
said in my previous letter, | should not
dare to trust young dog on this pheasant.
had made arrangements to train a
brace of English setter bitches for Thomas
johnson, owner Of the celebrated Manitoba
Kennels, Winfred, Manitoba but after
seeing it would be impossible to get good
results with these birds, | have decided
not to have them come. MY advice to
those who think of stocking with the Mon
gohan pheasant IS to give them the go
by and stock with the king of game birds,
the cunning little Bob White, and the
prairie chicken.
Brother sportsmen, isn't it 4 pleasure
when your dog comes to stand to know
you have the pleasure of trying your good
aim on a true game bird Mr. Editor, I
have drawn this letter out pretty long, but
l have tried to show this China pheasant
up to where he belongs, and you can give
this letter TO the waste basket or a place
on the hook. Yours respectfully,
c. A. LOUD,
Capt Corvallis Rod and Gun Club
Corvallis, Or, August l3, 1882