CHAPTER XIII. 



PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



TO-DAY, the 1st of October, pheasant shooting beings at home, and 

 doubtless many a Tientsin sportsman is wishing that he too might 

 shoulder his gun, and with his favourite pointer go 'for a happy 

 day amongst the pheasants. As this is quite out? of the question for 

 most of us, let us indulge in a little armchair travel, and derive what 

 comfort we can from a quiet contemplation of the noble sport over our 

 coffee and toast. 



On the merits of pheasant shooting, compared with other forms of 

 sport, in which the shot-gun plays the leading part, one need say no- 

 thing. The fact that it is by far the most important sport of its kind 

 at home speaks for it. 



The common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was introduced into 

 Western Europe by the Eomans, who brought it from its home in 

 South-eastern Europe and Asia Minor. When it reached Great Britain 

 is not exactly known. 



This bird is a handsome fellow, with its rich orange-brown, and 

 old gold plumage, dark green head and fine, well marked tail, the whole 

 shot with a purple or coppery sheen. There are something like thirty 

 sub-species or local races of the common pheasant, all of which 

 are characterized by the red-brown or orange colour of the upper tail 

 coverts. They range from Persia westward, and so, being more or 

 less out of our way, call for no further comment in this paper. 



From Persia eastward right to the islands off the coast of China, 

 we have a great number and variety of pheasants. What are known 

 as the true pheasants are characterized by having wings more like those 

 of the partridge, with the first flight feather much longer than the 

 tenth, by the absence of any crest, though the ear tufts are elongated 

 in the males, and by the presence in the males of spurs. They 

 differ from the true pheasants west of Persia in having the upper tail 

 coverts of a grey or pale green colour,. 



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