THE WHITK I'MI'.ASANT. 419 



saw each other, a spirit of rivuhy would take place, which would be injurious to the 

 increase of the birds. The pheasants should receive nourishing and stiinidating food, 

 wliich hastens the period of reproduction ; but they should not be fattened, as this is 

 dangerous. The hens which are too fat do not la}' so many eggs, and the shell of thg 

 eggs is so soft, that there is a risk of their being broken in incubation. The enclosures 

 sliould have a southern aspect, and be defended on the northern side by a wood or 

 high wall. 



Could the horned pheasants, or the I'efulgcnt Impeyan pheasants, be imported in suffi- 

 cient numbers into England, there is little doubt but that they might, with proper 

 management, become naturalised. No fear need be entertained with regard to cold. As 

 they are the natives of a cold or temperate region, the wooded hills which might be found 

 for them, would not be very nncongcnial to their constitution. Nor would there be any 

 difficulty in pro^■iding them with svutable food. Grain forms the staple diet of all the 

 gallinaceous tribe ; hence so many of them have become domesticated, of which the birds 

 ^^•e have nov' to consider present a striking example. 



2e2 



