^U !aigbt5 !^cservc6. October. 1922 



BIRD NOTES: 



— THE — 

 JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



The Manchurian Eared Pheasant. 

 ( Crossoptilon manchurium.) 



By W. Shore Baily. F.Z.S. 



There are five varieties of this handsome pheasant, all 

 inhabiting- the mountains of China and Thibet, where they are 

 found in the forests up to an elevation of io,oog feet. Naturally 

 they are very hardy birds, and make most suitable occupants of 

 our aviaries. 



Unfortunately only the above species seems to come over, 

 and these not very frequently. 



I think it was three years ago that 1 got my birds from 

 Hamlyn, and he was, if I remember rightly, offering five or 

 six pairs at the time. 



The first season the hen laid several eggs, but did not 

 attempt to sit. The eggs were placed under a hen. but only 

 one hatched out. This grew remarkably cjuickly and made a 

 fine bird, which was duly disposed of in the autumn. 



ihis season I had better luck; the hen Pheasant built a 

 nest in a privet hedge and started incubating ten eggs ; these I 

 removed to a broody hen. and on June loth six hatched out. 

 They Avere pretty little things, about the size of Orpington 

 chicks. From the start they refused nothing in the shape of 

 food, although they showed a decided preference for live-food; 

 they were also very fond of green-stuff, particularly lettuce. 

 They grew apace, and started feathering very early in the same 

 manner as do the Tragopan chicks. The most remarkable 

 thing about these birds, however, is their extreme tameness. 

 They are now practically full-grown, and they will, if permitted, 

 fly upon my head and shoulders, and I am sure that if I were to 

 let them out of their aviary they would follow me anywhere. 



