A Flumagc E[^isudc of the Cuininon Pheasant. 193 



other hand, they cannot have too much air; ihcy can stand any amount oi 

 cold, but not excessive heat. A long train journey is especially trying with 

 its jangling and general disturbance. In the case of the capercailzie for the 

 Algonquin Park a special pass was obtained by the Canadian Government 

 from the New York Custom House authorities, and on the arrival of the 

 steamer from Copenhagen the birds were at once sent direct in a special 

 railway carriage to their destination in (Jiitario. 



Iixtraordinary care was also taken with regard to the blackgame for 

 Ihitish Columbia, and thejr condition was telegraphed at frequent intervals 

 on the journey from New York across the American continent. I^ach 

 shipment of the large number of l)irds for the president of the Cleveland Cliffs 

 Iron Company was at once, on reaching New York, taken over by an express 

 companv and forwarded with all speed to Ohio, where they arrived with 

 wonderfully little loss. The birds for Tasmania had to be sent via London, 

 whence they travelled under the person.-il cire of their purchaser on board a 

 mail steamer. 



The willow grouse is, as is well known, captured in thousands during 

 the winter months in Northern Scandinavia, and usually in a manner which 

 entails much suffering. Ryper snaring as it is carried on in Norway is, in 

 fact, a disgrace. The snares are rarely looked after properly, and as a result 

 most of the birds entangled are frozen to death after having broken wings 

 or legs in the struggle to escape ; others die of hunger and thirst, and many 

 are torn to pieces by the foxes and ravens. 



As with the wood game birds, however, so with the willow grouse, and 

 when it is made worth the " Fangstmand's " while he can secure them alive 

 and uninjured. Like the capercailzie, they are excellent travellers, and of 

 some 300 which were sent abroad about 1910-11 nearly all reached their 

 various destinations in safety."' 



^^-f<> 



A Plumage Episode of Ihe Common Pheasant. 



By Wk.sley T. P.age, F.Z.S., -AI.B.O.U., Etc. 



In 1918 a Pal up Xortli took a nest of pheasant eggs and 

 put them under a broody hen to hatch out for me. In due 

 course every egg hatched out. i;ut ni the end from various 

 mishaps there were but three survivors. These were sent to 

 me in August of the same year. When the hamper was opened 

 they all had more or less damaged heads, and one of them died 

 two days later; the other two did well. One was more 

 advanced than the other and already had patches of colour 

 indicating it was a male, and before a week had passed the 



