56 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
to the farmot Mr. Denny’s brother near 
Albany Ore. They arrived safely, and in 
the same year 28 of these birds were liber- 
ated, on Washington Butte on the Denny 
Homestead, Linn Co. 
This lot increased and spread rapidly. 
a stringent law was passed by act of 
legislature for their protection for five 
years, at the expiration of which time, 
was extended five additonal years, and 
the majority of the Denny Pheasants in 
this country are undoubtedly descendents 
oi this, the second lot. 
Mr. Denny having made a careful study 
of the numerous species of pheasant in- 
habiting China, selected this species as 
the one, in his judgement, best fitted for 
various reasons to exist and survive on 
the Pacific slope, the birds presence here 
in numbers, to day fully proves the sound- 
ness of that judgement. 
In 1884 Mr. Denny returned from China, 
bringing with him 90 birds, one third of 
them were Golden pheasants the remain- 
der Silver, Copper and Green pheasants, 
two pair Trogapan and a few of the Den- 
ny pheasant. These birds were given in 
charge of the Rod and Gun Club for dis- 
tribution through out the state, and by 
the club were placed.on Protection Island, 
Puget Sound, for propagation and safe 
keeping anda keeper employed to look 
after them- Later the club disbanded, 
and for reasons not necessary to this article 
to enumerate, the birds were lost to Ore- 
gon, this the third lot was procured at 
considerable expense and trouble, some of 
them were bred by Judge Denny, others 
were purchased by him at an expense of 
five to nlne dollars a pair and were design- 
ed, to bea gift. then and in the future, to 
the people of Oregon, by the donor. It is 
a matter of regret not to say censure that 
they were allowed to pass into other hands 
by those having them in charge. | These 
pheasants the most beautiful and gorgeous 
of all Oregon’s birds are nervy, hardy,. 
prolific, and have come to stay, for they 
‘23 egos average 1.68, X 1.33. 
possess some trait, not shared by our na- 
tive grouse which enable them to exist 
and increase in close proximity to our 
largest towns and cities, as well as amidst 
our well settled farming sections, they fly 
swiftiy, run fast, seem intuitively to know 
a.gun atsight and are remarkably tenac: 
ious of life. 
They frequently enter the barn-yard, 
whip the domestic fow! and run the roost 
at their pleasure. When the weather is 
cold they often enter the chicken house 
and roost with the fowl. When not hunt- 
ed the Denny Pheasants are quite tame, 
but upon pursuit become exceedingly shy 
and retiring iu their habits. The cock 
crows, in tone resembling a young cockerel, 
and frequentiy flying to some eminence, 
szemingly for that purpose. This bird 
will hybridize with the domestic hen. 
Ail attempts to domesticate this pheas- 
ant in Oregon have been failures. 
There is much difference of opinion re- 
garding this species utility. An examin- 
ation of many crops, of this bird at differ- 
ent seasons of the year, show that while 
their principal food is grain, wheat, barley, 
miliet, and seeds of wild plants, yet a good 
proportion was some form of insect life 
noticeable among, were beeties, grass-hop- 
pers, numerous flys, millers and grubs 
Their flesh is excellent and considered 
superior to our native grouse and quail, 
yet the closest observers contend that they 
are Slowiy but surely crowding our native 
game birds. 
The Denny Pheasant nests on the 
ground and as a ruie in the open, the nest 
is a slight hollow in the soil natural or 
scratched out, and lined with leaves grass — 
or fern; the usual number of eggs laid are 
15 to 18, creamy in color, and some sets 
are spotted with olive. Measurements of 
Apparently 
complete sets of 7eggs are found and as 
many as 21 in a set are recorded. 
are usually fertile but one 
The - 
period of incubation is 24 days, all eggs ‘ 
brood is — 
i i ee 
