iv PREFACE. 



Chinese (P. torquatus), the Mongolian (P. mongolicus), the 

 Japanese (P. versicolor), and the Prince of Wales's (P. princi- 

 pfilis) species ; whilst the Reeves's pheasant (P. reevesii), well 

 adapted both for sporting and culinary purposes, has been bred 

 in the forests of Scotland and elsewhere. In the same manner, 

 our aviaries have been enriched by the addition of the Amherst 

 pheasant (Thanmalea amherstise) and others,, which, by their 

 exquisite beauty, eclipse even the gorgeous coloration and 

 elegant markings of the comparatively well-known Gold and 

 Silver pheasants. 



To indicate and illustrate these various species, to give 

 as far as is known their natural history, to describe the 

 best methods of rearing them in preserves and inclosed 

 pheasantries, to enter into the numerous details respecting 

 their food, management, protection, rearing, diseases, &c., are 

 the objects at which I have aimed in the preparation of this 

 work. 



In the following chapters I first treat of the natural 

 history of the pheasants generally their food, habits, 

 nesting, &c. Then follows the consideration of their 

 management in preserves, the details of the different 

 methods of feeding the birds, their protection from their 

 numerous enemies, the formation of coverts, &c. This is 

 succeeded by an account of their treatment in enclosed 

 pheasantries, the hatching of the eggs, the rearing and 

 feeding of the young birds, and the prevention and cure 

 of their diseases. 



A detailed description of all the different species adapted 

 for turning out, and of the various hybrids and crosses 

 between them, is then given; and the work concludes 



