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Between these "eyes" some leopard I ik.- mottling* diversify the ij.-i, fawn of the ground 



col.,1. ; m .| i.uiM.le th. -in four wav\ Lands of .lark brown niti along the feather towards the 

 .-.L.-. l.|.-akm_- u|. mi.. s|N.ts about .in in.-li l-fon- tli--\ macll tin- !_. Tli.' inn.-r web i- p.il.- 

 fawn ...\.-i.-d with black HJN.IS. surrounded with luilT. and tin- lip of tin- w I iole feather is deep 

 brown, spott.-d profusely with white. The shaft is black at ita base, and yellow towards it* 

 termination. 



In aiiolhi-r feather lxth webs an- marked just like a leopard, with dark spot* on a fawn 

 ground, only the spots are arranged in diagonal rows. Hut along the shaft runs a hand, about 

 three-quarters of an inch wide, of rich chocolate. pi.>fu^-ly s|>eckled with the tiniest white 

 sj.ots, also ainui-.-d in rows. Thi- Land d--- n-.i .piit.- extend t ih.- .-nd >>f lli.- f.-alli.-r. 

 which at it* tip is pale fawn very sparingly studded with deep brown rosettes, surround. -d 

 with ch.-tnnt. These are but two feathers, and I might take twenty as wonderful. In the 

 female the secondary feathers, instead of measuring nearly a yard in length, are little more 

 titan a foot, and the eyes are much more obscure. The Argus Pheasant inhabit* Sumatra and 

 n> it;h boring localities. 



THE well-known PHEASANT affords a triumphant instance of the success wHh which a 

 bird of a strange country may be acclimatized to another with some little assistance from 

 its owner. 



Originally the Pheasant was an inhabitant of Asia Minor, and ha* been by degrees intro- 

 duced into many European countries, where its beauty of form and plumage and the delicacy 

 of its flesh made it a welcome visitor. In northern countries, it is probably dependent to a 

 great extent on "preserves" for its existence, as. .-\>-n putting aside the marauding attacks of 

 poachers, whether biped or quadruped, the bird requires much shelter and plenty of food. 

 Kven with the precautions that are taken by the owners of preserves, the breed is to some 

 decree artificially k--pt up Ly tli.- liatchiin: of Pli.-a-aiit' > __> u!id.-r doiip-Mi.- h.-n-.. and f.--d 

 ing them in the coop like ordinary chickens, until they are old and strong enough to get their 

 own living. 



The food of this bird is extremely varied. When young it is generally fed on ants' eggs, 

 maggots, grits, and similar food, but when it is fully grown it is possessed of an accommodating 

 appetite, and will eat many kinds of seeds, roots, and leaves. The tubers of the common 

 buttercup form a .-oiiMderable item in its diet, and the bird will also eat beans, peas, acorns, 

 berries of various kinds, and lias even lieen known to eat the ivy leaf as well as the l>erry. 



The Pheasant is a ground-loving bird, running with great speed, and always preferring to 

 trust to its legs rather than its wings. It is a crafty creature, and when alarmed, instead of 

 rising on the wing, it slips quietly out of sight behind a bush or through a hedge, and then 

 runs away with astonishing rapidity, always remaining under cover until it reaches some spot 

 where it deems itself to be safe. The male Pheasant is not in the least given to the domestic 

 affections, passing a kind of independent existence during part of the year, and associating 

 with others of its own sex during the rest of the season. It is a very combative bird, and can 

 maintain a stout fight even with a barn-door cock. When the two fight, an event of no very 

 i in frequent occurrence, the Pheasant often gets the better of the combat by his irregular mode 

 of proceeding. After tnaking two or three strokes, up goes the Pheasant into a tree to breathe 

 awhile, leaving the cock looking about for his antagonist. Presently, while his opponent is 

 still bewildered, down comes the Pheasant again, makes another stroke and retires to his 

 branch. The cock gets so puzzled at this mode of fightim; that he often yields tin- iK>int. 



It is rather curious that the Pheasant should display so great a tendency to mate with 

 birds of other species. Hybrids between the Pheasant and common hen are by no means 

 uncommon, and the peculiar form and color of the plumage, together with the wild and sus- 

 picious mien, are handed down through several generations. The grouse is also apt to mate 

 with the Pheasant, and even the turkey and the guinea fowl are mentioned among the mem- 

 u-rs of these curious alliances. 



As these pages are not intended for sporting purposes, the art and mystery of Pheasant 

 shooting will be left unnoticed. The ingenious mode employed by Mr. Waterton for the 



