FAMILY PhasianidcB 



its variegated plumage the female and young 

 of the year are dull colored in their pale 

 browns and blacks, spotted and length- 

 wise streaked in many shades, blending 

 with their environment so well as to make 

 them hard to see as they crouch down in the 

 cover of grass or weeds. The pheasant is 

 rarely found perched above the ground except 

 at night when it will often frequent trees 10 

 to 30 feet from the ground where it is safe 

 from prowling enemies. 



The nest of the China pheasant is hidden in 

 thick grass in grain or pasture fields, or under 

 brush piles in slashings or vacant lots. Like 

 all of the game birds, the young are able to 

 take care of themselves within a few hours 

 after hatching out. While small the young 

 pheasants are fed on insects but upon attain- 

 ing the half grown stage they are gross 

 feeders on vegetable matter, parents ar\d 

 young often consuming great quantities of 

 grain and garden crops. The male pheas- 

 ants are very noisy during the breeding sea- 

 son, giving vent to a peculiar cackling crow 

 which may be heard both day and night and 

 often at other time^ during the year. 



Although an introduced species the ring- 

 necked pheasant has become one of the 

 best known birds of the Pacific Coast, a beau- 

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