=^^ 



73 



York. The birds will be thrown with the ringnecks which Dr. Davison 

 has for years bred and liberated with excellent results, and it will be inter- 

 esting to note how the two species agree in the wild state. 



Goldens are bred by most of the commercial breeders and a good many 

 state farms also rear them. 



THE AMHERST PHEASANT.— This is one of the most beautiful 

 of all the pheasants and, with the golden, completes the highly restricted 

 genus, Thaumalea. The two interbreed freely and their progeny is fer- 

 tile. The cross exceeds either parent in beauty of plumage. It is inter- 

 esting to note that the Amherst prefers rocky, unwooded places covered 

 with bramble and briar, and that it is accustomed to considerable extremes 

 of heat and cold in its native Thibet. There are parts of our western 

 country in which this species might do well. In captivity it is best to 

 afford it the maximum of cover. 



THE SILVER PHEASANT.— We come now to the last of the species 

 to be considered and, incidentally, arrive at a new genus, Euplocamus. 

 In the opinion of Mr. Beebe, this pheasant is probably the most numerous 

 species in the United States, the ringneck and Chinese excepted. These 

 birds are so vicious, however, and are so hard to get off the ground that 

 they are not worthy of much consideration, though they are undoubtedly 

 of beautiful plumage. The cocks will attack anything that is feathered 

 and not infrequently go for the keeper when he enters their pen. Of 

 course, they are not much of a menace, but a cock might do serious injury 

 to a child. Mr. Beebe informs me that Mr. William L. Finley has written 

 him that silvers occur in the wild state in considerable numbers in Oregon. 

 I know of no place in the East in which they can be found in the wild in 

 any numbers. 



When the silver can be induced to get up its flight is low, making 

 dangerous shooting. It comes from the wooded hills of southern China 

 and has long been known in this country and Europe. Its flesh is not 

 regarded highly and, altogether, outside the aviary, where it is quite 

 attractive, it is not a desirable bird. 



