14 THE CHINA OR DENNY PHEASANT IN OREGON 



found their way out slowly, purring about and stretching themselves and keeping near 

 their cage, seeming to feel that it was home. For a long time, indeed all through the fol- 

 lowing winter, they did not go far away, but came about the farms, sometimes coming to 

 feed with the chickens. Gradually, however, their wild nature triumphed, and as they 

 became acclimatized and used to the bearings of the new country in which they found 

 themselves they strayed off farther and farther. Soon after an act of protection was passed 

 by the legislature for a period of five years. At the end of that time the act was renewed 

 for another five years, and by that time the birds had become so successfully acclimatized 

 as to withstand the most vigorous annual onslaughts. Thus encouraged, and disregard- 

 ing the heavy expense which these undertakings incurred, Judge Denny resolved upon 

 a third. This time, about two years later, his attention was turned toward a shipment 

 of pheasants and partridges, ninety birds in all, in which the ring-necked was not a pre- 

 dominating factor. The ones now sent were largely silver and copper pheasants, the 

 latter, beautiful long-tailed birds, with plumage of burnished copper color which reflected 

 brilliantly from them as they flew through the gleaming sun-rays. The shipment also 

 contained a little Chefoo partridge, petite and unique in its spotted plumage. These 

 also survived transportation finely, and were turned over to a club whose members thus 

 assumed the responsibility of bearing further expense. The birds were transferred to a 



