32 PHEASANTS 



an affection for the black-necked bird 

 familiar to their childhood ; those who 

 have been at the considerable expense of 

 importing a new species as a commercial 

 venture will not be found slow to 

 insist on its merits, whether for looks, 

 edible qualities, non-straying propensities, 

 stamina, or strength of wing : and that is 

 about all there is to it. 



It is really sufficiently ludicrous to 

 realize that in the Austrian Empire there 

 is a steady demand for English pheasants, 

 and a large importation of guaranteed 

 English eggs from this country : while to 

 set off against this, we have at the same 

 time a heavy cross traffic of real Hun- 

 garian black-necks, imported into this 

 country to take the place of English 

 pheasants in rearing -field and covert. 

 The game-farmers may benefit by the 

 increase of business, yet they must read 

 many a customer's order with a smile for 

 the foibles of fashion. 



