THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



1{ are fortunate in being 

 able to present onrreaders 

 with a genuine specimen 

 of the Ring-Necked spec- 

 ies of this remarkable family of birds, 

 as the Ring-Neck has been crossed 

 with the Mongolian to such an extent, 

 especially in many parts of the United 

 States, that they are practically the 

 same bird now. They are gradually 

 taking the place of Prairie Chickens, 

 which are becoming extinct. The 

 hen will hatch but once each year, and 

 then in the late spring. She will 

 hatch a covey of from eighteen to 

 twenty-two young birds from each set- 

 ting. The bird likes a more open 

 country than the quail, and nests only 

 in the open fields, although it will 

 spend much time roaming through 

 timberland. Their disposition is much 

 like that of the quail, and at the first 

 sign of danger they will rush into hid- 

 ing. They are handy and swift flyers 

 and runners. In the western states 

 they will take the place of the Prairie 

 Chicken, and in Ohio will succeed the 

 Quail and common Pheasant. 



While they are hardy birds, it is said 

 that the raising of Mongolian-English 

 Ring-Necked Pheasants is no easy 

 task. The hens do not make 

 regular nests, but lay their eggs on the 

 ground of the coops, where they are 

 picked up and placed in a patent box, 

 which turns the eggs over daily. 

 After the breeding season the male 

 birds are turned into large parks until 

 February. 



The experiment which is now being 

 made in Ohio — if it can be properly so 

 termed, thousands of birds having been 

 liberated and begun to increase — has 

 excited wide-spread interest. A few 

 years ago the Ohio Fish and Game 

 Commission, after hearing of the great 

 success of Judge Denny, of Portland, 

 Oregon, in rearing these birds in that 



state, decided it would be time and 

 money well spent if they should devote 

 their attention and an ''appropriation" 

 to breeding and rearing these attractive 

 eame birds. And the citizens of that 

 state are taking proper measures to see 

 that they are protected. Recently 

 more than two thousand Pheasants 

 were shipped to various counties of the 

 state, where the natural conditions are 

 favorable, and where the commission 

 has the assurance that the public will 

 organize for the purpose of protecting 

 the Pheasants. A law has been enacted 

 forbidding the killing of the birds 

 until November 15, 1900. Two hun- 

 dred pairs liberated last year increased 

 to over two thousand. When not 

 molested the increase is rapid. If the 

 same degree of success is met with 

 between now and 1900, with the strict 

 enforcement of the game laws, Ohio 

 will be well stocked with Pheasants in 

 a few years. They will prove a great 

 benefit to the farmers, and will more 

 than recompense them for the little 

 grain they may take from the fields in 

 destroying bugs and insects that are 

 now agents of destruction to the grow- 

 ing crops. 



The first birds were secured by Mr. 

 E. H. Shorb, of Van Wert, Ohio, from 

 Mr. Verner De Guise, of Rahway, N. J. 

 A pair of ^Mongolian Pheasants, and a 

 pair of English Ring-Necks were 

 secured from the Wyandache Club, 

 Smithtown, L. I. These birds were 

 crossed, thus producing the English 

 Ring - Neck Mongolian Pheasants, 

 which are larger and better birds, and 

 by introducing the old English Ring- 

 Neck blood, a bird was produced that 

 does not wander, as the thoroughbred 

 Mongolian Pheasant does. 



Such of our readers as appreciate 

 the beauty ;and quality of this superb 

 specimen will no doubt wish to have 

 it framed for the embellishment of the 

 dininof room. 



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