PHEASANTS AND TURKEYS 



one of the commonest of the game birds of 

 Oregon where it was introduced from China 

 by Judge Denny in 1880. It is now abundant 

 everywhere in the valleys west of the Cas- 

 cades and in the irrigated districts east of 

 the mountains. 



On account of the protection afforded the 

 pheasant by the game laws it is now one of 

 the main sources of sport open to the gunner 

 in the short open season each year. It has 

 increased so rapidly in the farming districts 

 as to be a serious menace to growling crops 

 in some sections, and it has become so tame 

 in its constant association with man that it is 

 a frequent visitor to towns and cities where it 

 is a common nester in vacant lots under the 

 protection of brush piles and tall weeds. 



In the farming districts the China pheas- 

 ants may be seen in small flocks feeding in the 

 grain fields and potato rows. It naturally 

 keeps near the protection of thick brush 

 along the edges of woodland into which it 

 dives at the approach of danger, trusting 

 to its strong legs for safety rather than to 

 flight, except when surprised at close quarters 

 when it darts to cover with a whirr of wings 

 in a straight-away flight of astonishing 

 swiftness. 



While the male pheasant is conspicuous in 

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