128 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Reeves' pheasant has been turned out by the late Lord 

 Lilford in Northamptonshire, by Lord Walsingham at 

 Merton Hall, Norfolk, and by Lord Rendlesham in 

 Suffolk. It is to be hoped that other owners of suitable 

 coverts may follow the example of these sportsmen, for 

 Reeves' pheasant bids fair to make a first-rate sporting 

 bird, and prove at the same time a most ornamental and 

 pleasing addition to our woodlands. Once seen, the 

 male of this species is scarcely likely to pass out of 

 recollection, for it is at all times, either in the air or on 

 the ground, immediately to be recognized by its extra- 

 ordinary tail, which in fully adult birds attains to a 

 length of six feet or more. The plumage also is most 

 beautifully varied, black, white, chestnut or golden- 

 yellow being pleasingly intermixed. The true propor- 

 tions of this remarkable bird can, perhaps, best be 

 realized when it is seen on the wing ; it then forms a 

 most striking object, its total length being considerably 

 more than twice that of the common pheasant, which, by 

 the way, it also exceeds greatly in the speed of its flight. 

 Some owners or lessees of pheasant-coverts attach 

 little importance to the matter of keeping their birds 

 true to type. As a matter of fact, try how one may, to 

 preserve any particular variety in uncontaminated state 

 is at all times a well-nigh impossible undertaking in the 

 case of birds running absolutely at large. The poly- 

 gamous nature and roving disposition of the cock 

 pheasant operate against this. Thus, if one proprietor 

 adheres strictly to the old, dark variety and his neigh- 

 bour to the ring-necked species, the birds, from their 

 respective coverts sooner or later meet, and crosses 

 will be observable. In this connection it will be of 

 interest to observe that whenever the dark-necked, the 



