o}2K0 PHEASANT (A RAILIPEG rho 
Ruffed Grouse Strutting and Showing Ruff of Glossy Black Feathers 
and Fan-Shaped Tail 
and grouse, he says that in his opinion the Chinese pheasant is 
being made the scapegoat and that the real culprit is civilization. 
[n his letter he says: 
“In the Willamette Valley quail and grouse were 
plentiful before the arrival of the Chinese pheasant, 
and I enjoyed in full measure the pleasure of hunting 
them then and after the advent of the Chinese pheas- 
ant, so that I feel I may testify from personal expe- 
rience. It is true that in later years these native birds 
have become very scarce, and the foreigner plentiful. 
Deep down in my heart there has always been a tender 
spot for the native game birds. The sport of hunting 
these birds, though now rarely enjoyed, is the keenest 
I ever had. I am not so sure, after all, but that much 
of this pleasure is due to the boyhood memory it re- 
calls, and yet some of the grandest hunting I have ever 
had was the Chinese pheasant. 
“T have heard before the suggestion that the Chi- 
nese pheasant had driven out the native pheasant, 
grouse and the quail, but I have never taken any stock 
in this indictment. As every hunter knows, the three 
native birds are modest and retiring. The Chinese 
20 
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