The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-10-03

Thursday afternoon we joined party
consisting OF Messrs Watts, Deyoe, French
AMI Lewis In an expedition alter the far
famed Chinese pheasants -Four pairs Of
these birds were imported from China four
years ago, and turned loose on Tie prairie
In the edge of town. For their projection
law was passed making 1t nisdemeaf-
or 20 kill ihlm within five years, under a
penalty Of $50, onc.half OF which Is TO be
paid 10 the informer. Under this prolec-
tien they have multiplied with marvellous
rapldIty, until the stubble fields for 100
miles up the valley are literally alive with
them. The necessity for their protection
no longer exists, and the law IL generally
| igno.cd, though cross grained men or
| petty souis anxious 10 obtain few dollars
without rssorting 10 labor, occasionally
play the spy and cause offenders trouble.
II follows that slight degree OF caution
Is thei eicfcre observed by hunters, who us
ually refer TO the contents Of their game
bags as grouse.
We found tire birds In abundance within
a few miles Of the city and unanimously
voted them the gamest and altogether
most delightful quarry ever met. Though
mountains and tall timber are at hand they
| confne themselves exclusively TO siubble
and grass fields, giving preference 10 those
containing underground and convenient
to water. They resort to the brush ir
the heat Of the day and feed In The field
In the morning and evening hours. TheJ
cannot be hunted without a dog with anJ
degree Of success, and by their cunning
frequently loci the keenest-nosed pointer
and setters, by running a mile after th'
canine has come 10 point, but this doe
not happen so frequently as TO serionsl,
interfere with the hunters sport. The
hide like a snIpe, and the hunter withou
. dog can sometimes walk almost owe
. them without flushing them. When the.
rise, they do so with great whirr O
7 wings and fly, usually IN straight lin
Y With the utmost velocity. such thin
: as shooting them on the ground Is 80 rar
: as TO be practically impossible, but exper
. wing shots can always count with certain
= ty upon we'll filled bags. The hens arc @
plain gray color, closely resembling
: prairie chicken, but the cocks are Of q
G brilliant and varied piumage as a typief
Z tropical bird, with long tall feathers, fire
Q qaently measuring two feet from tip 10 III
9 They are as fine 20 eat as they arc gay
y look at, and fdrnibb Spon compared
9 which the killing OF quail Is Ike II
y slaughter OF sparrows with musket ]
y the opinion Of all who have csamined tn
G subject from an unprcjudced standpoin
= the bird IL one which would be valuab
y acquisition 10 California fields. A ie
II pairs turned loose upon the ranches {
n Senator Stanford, u - Murphy, Mrs Mui
= ply -Colombe,, Dan Murphy and Morga
!, Hill, with suitable protection for year {
u two, would give our Garden City Gu
q Club game worthy of their guns.
" One Of the wonders OF Albany Is It's hS
:. tel. the ST Charles, whose landlord, Ea
q Race, Is Il man among thousand, boz
y TO his business. The building - an ur
& preteniious three stony wooden struetur
and the attraction Of the house consis
Z entirely In It's superb bill Of fare and Il
sr talent Of IL host, who seldom Bays a wo
y. loo little or too much. We paiI our bill
lr in haid cash and this tribute Is one
" genuine merit and not In cancellation
re obligations.