The Lady Amherst Pheasant. 41 



in fact, no pheasants do, and those with long tails 

 look very wretched. 



The hens are quarrelsome amongst themselves. You 

 may keep two hens to each cock for breeding. Be 

 sure the cock agrees with the hens, for some cocks 

 are regular Bluebeards, and kill every hen, and that 

 very quickly, picking out their eyes and scalping them. 



Amhersts are decidedly hardy when young, and 

 have no special diseases. Give plenty of chopped 

 onion and lettuce ; let the food be as directed in 

 Chapter IV. ; keep clean, and supply clean water ; and, 

 if bred from healthy stock, you will rear one of the 

 best varieties of aviary pheasants. I have not found 

 hemp seed injure these birds, as it certainly does the 

 Reeves'. 



