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CHAPTER XIII 



Pheasants Other than Chinese and Ringneck 



Probably the Reeves, Mongolian and versicolor are, among the true 

 pheasants, the species most generally bred in the United States, though 

 none has as yet been established in the wild over any appreciable area and 

 all three are used at the present mainly for crossing purposes. These will 

 be considered in the order named : 



REEVES. — This species is being bred on the state farms of Oregon, 

 Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Activities in this connection on the 

 Oregon farm have assumed considerable proportions, as will appear from 

 the interesting letter from Mr. William L. Finley, given herewith: 



More than four years ago when I took the position of state game 

 warden, I found that my predecessor had entered into contract with 

 Mr. 'Gene Simpson to purchase 100 pairs of Reeves pheasants for 

 $1500 to liberate in different sections of the state. The previous 

 year quite a number of these birds were liberated and we had fairly 

 good reports of their breeding in the wild state. When we took 

 over Mr. Simpson's stock we purchased about one hundred Reeves 

 in addition. From that time on we have been raising and liberating 

 about two or three hundred of these birds in certain sections of 

 the state each season. We know of specific instances in which they 

 have bred in the wild state. As a rule, they have scattered quite a 

 little from the places where they were liberated. When set free in 

 the valley, they seemed to seek the hilly land. For instance, some 

 that were liberated in Lane County near Eugene were found some 

 forty or fifty miles up the river. A pair bred on a farm above Oak 

 Ridge, and a flock of seven of these birds was seen during the 

 past season. 



The trouble is the Reeves is not nearly as prolific as the Chi- 

 nese pheasant. We do not get more than an average of fifteen to 

 twenty eggs from the former, while forty to eighty eggs are laid 

 by the Chinese hen. The birds are more difficult to raise, also, 

 although Mr. Simpson uses practically the same methods with 

 the Reeves as with the ringnecks (Chinese). They are reared side 

 by side and sometimes in adjoining coops in the same enclosure. 

 I do not know yet whether we shall continue breeding these 

 birds indefinitely or not. They are not really successful as a 

 game bird, but it is a beautiful sight to see them in the fields 

 and woods. 



