PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



which may be briefly summarised as follows : — (a) To maintain 

 a vigorous constitutional stamina ; (6) to produce birds that 

 are not only strong flyers, but possessed of a high degree 

 of flight ; and (c) to increase the beauty of the plumage as 

 well as the weight and size of the bird. 



The edible qualities have also to be considered, fineness 

 in the grain of the flesh being to the epicure a most desir- 

 able feature. As the male parent usually predominates in 

 the production of soundness of constitution, hardihood and 

 physical development in other respects, it is advisable to 

 mate pure-bred Mongolian cocks with black-necked hens 

 (P. Colchicus), and the product of this generation will be, if 

 pure-bred birds have been used, a brood consisting of half 

 Mongolians and half Colchicus. If the hens of this genera- 

 tion are then mated with a pure Mongolian again, three- 

 quarter bred Mongolian generation is established, and finally 

 if this latter generation are again mated with a pure Mon- 

 golian, the product should be birds of the true Mongolian 

 type, the black-necked element having been finally bred out. 

 Theoretically the converse applies, when a Mongolian hen is 

 used, but the exclusion of type is less clearly defined in the 

 case of a female, therefore it is advisable to insure "fixity of 

 breed" by commencing on the male side. Individuality is 

 more lasting under these circumstances. 



Although the Pheasant is a polygamous bird, it is not 

 advisable to allow him, either in the pheasantry or in a covert, 

 more than from five to eight wives, a proportion that should 

 be borne in mind when the cock birds are killed off at the 

 end of the shooting season, but it is not e.xpedient to deplete 

 the male stock too much. On the other hand, the old cock 

 bird will be a nuisance to the young ones in the spring, as 

 well as destroy the chances of successful later broods, by 

 harassing the hens. Moreover the old male birds often lead 



70 



