194 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



them very uncertain layers,, although one season my hen birds 

 laid an average of twenty eggs apiece, from which a very good 

 proportion of young birds were hatched out. My impression 

 is that these birds lay best at all events in captivity at 

 about their third or fourth year. My gamekeeper, who has 

 had charge of them, assures me that the young birds are very 

 hardy and easy to rear. I have in Northamptonshire (the 

 county in which I have tried these birds) no very large extent 

 of woodlands of my own, and cannot therefore tell you much 

 of their habits in a wild state, as they are very much given to 

 roaming to great distances, and a good many have fallen 

 victims in my neighbour's woods, besides the large percentage 

 that may be always allowed in a foxhunting country. They 

 have certainly crossed, though not abundantly, with the 

 common pheasant. The male hybrid of the first cross is a 

 most splendid bird. Reeves's pheasant is a very wild, shy 

 bird, very quick on the wing, somewhat given to go back if 

 possible, but quickly attains a good height in the air, giving 

 good rocketing shots. I found them most excellent for the 

 table in my opinion far superior to the common pheasant. 

 I believe, from what I have seen and heard of this species, 

 that for real success with them in this country a wide range of 

 hill coverts would be most eligible. I believe that Sir Dudley 

 Coutts Marjoribanks has had great success with Reeves's 

 pheasants in Ross-shire. I am informed that as many as sixty 

 Reeves's have been shot in these coverts in a single season." 



Fifteen years after Lord Lilford favoured me with the 

 above communication he published in " The Birds of North- 

 amptonshire " a further report on this species, in which he 

 maintains its desirable character as a game bird for ranges 

 of woodland in mountainous districts. His account is as 

 follows : 



" Another most beautiful species, known as Reeves's or 

 the bar-tailed pheasant (P. reevesii), though we have 

 found it hardy, easy to rear, and excellent for the table, our 

 opinion is that, as it possesses the roaming instinct in a still 



