Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-14
A NEW GAME BIRD.
Monaghan Pheasant, Said 10
Be Adapted to Maine.
It Is Very Handsome, Fine Eating,
and Very Hard to Hit.
Game Commissioner Thinks Well OF IT,
Other State House News.

The inland fish and game commits
sioners are contemplating with much
favor, the introduction of the Mongoli-
an pheasant into this State. Every
thing points most strongly to its ulti-
mate acceptance, as the conditions here
are thought to be in every way suit
able for it.
S R. Boardman of Calais, whose
equaled in the State. says that he
knows of no reason whatever why the
bird should not be successful in Maine.
and is confident that it would thrive
here to the very best of advantage.
The success which this bird has re-
ceived in Oregon, and it's recent receD-
ton and promising future in Massa-
chusetts. gives every reason for sup
posing that it will do equally we'll here.
The bird is something like the Eng
fish pheasant. only it eXcels the latter
in many respects. so much as to prac-
tiCally leave no question. In the first
place. a feature which can obviously lie
seen is most disastrous, the English
ring neck pheasant is thought to be
hawkish. 1t is known to be 4 hybrid
and not the bird that the other is, in
many ways. As game bird it is q
failure. being logy. and easily killed
by most anyone who can hit the side
of barn door"
On the other hand. the Monaghan
pheasant is spry, flies quickly. and Is
worth any mans hunting. 1t feeds on
grubs, and. in oregon, where it has be
come really very common, it has done
50 much good in destroying rernicious
insects and worms, that a law has re-
Gently been passed prohibiting its eX
portation from the state. except Cor
breeding purposes, much as the laws of
this State forbid the game from being
shipped to foreign markets The
pheasants have even gone so far as to
eat frogs.
For potato bugs, the bird has no
peer, and on that account alone, it
would be most welcome in this State.
An amusing case is reported of the
birds. AS has been said, the pheasants.
that is the grown up birds, eat potato
bugs with great satisfaction. The
young ones refuse them. but invariably
outgrow their fastidiousness.
Again. the birds are very much hand
somer and harder than their Englis,
| "brethren" OF their hardness. wri-
| ter in Massachusetts,, has related that
he had lot come from Vancouver.
| They were eight days on the journey
with nothing but wheat and water to
| live upon. With some anxiety, they
were released. The anxiety. however,
says the writer, was soon put to flight,
| for the birds, both the hens and chicks.
! flew away like sky rockets. Now.
| sLy-rocket- like birds" continues the
| writer. lis just what sportsmen are
locking for, and one and all would
| gtduly see tIIeIli III lillS otdtt.
| To further make, what might al
ready seem q hateful comparison, after
what has already been said regarding
the characteristics of the two, the Mon
| eoians breed much faster than the
| Englishers. In fact, while the latter
produce only from 90 to so eggs, a sea-
son, the former lay from go to so. The
results in oregon have borne out this,
and they are there becoming really too
numerous to mention.
| The young will fly at the age of three
weeks, and have the ungracious trick
of Fighting OUT from their confined
breeding places, before their feathers
are cut as it We're.
Mr.. Boardman further says that they
Will undoubtedly thrive here in the win
ter for, they are known to eat buds,
| etc, just like our birch cartridges,
| from the fact that in their native
climes in China and South Bavaria,
they live in the winter on high lands,
which produce nothing else, that would
be suitable eating for them.
While many other birds cannot be
bred in captivity these can; and with
a proper outlay by next winters Legis-
lature there is no question but that
they will be given trial here.
Last, but not least of their attractive
features, is the natural air of hauteur
which the Monaghan pheasants as
sumo. They are, indeed. very dignified,
and proud over something. undoubted-
ly their foreign ancestry. Their
wealthy plumage, Also is said to be the
cause of great deal Of conceit on their
part.
Taken as whole, they have charac-
terstics to entitle them to be consid-
cred the best game bird that could be
introduced, according to the opinions OF
naturalists and hunters, and will I'M
doubtedly. in time be adopted.
Miss Rena T. Winslow of Waterville,