THE PHEASANT 129 



ring-necked, the Japanese, or other of the true pheasants 

 interbreed, the resulting crosses will be found to be 

 perfectly fertile. Little apprehension need be felt, there- 

 fore, that the intermingling of these species will have 

 the ultimate effect of lessening production. With the 

 newly-introduced Reeves', or bar-tailed pheasant, this 

 does not hold good. One of our greatest authorities on 

 the pheasant, Mr. W. B, Tegetmeier, states positively 

 that whilst the existence of the cross between Reeves' 

 and the common pheasant has long been known, it is 

 undoubtedly a hybrid which will not breed. He, indeed, 

 goes a step further, by conveying the somewhat startling 

 information that Reeves' pheasant may be regarded as 

 being not merely specifically, but generically, distinct 

 from the true pheasants. Such conclusion, if correct, is 

 the more regrettable as calculated to act as a deterrent 

 to the more general introduction of this fine sporting 

 bird. Possibly, however, it may turn out, on further in- 

 vestigation, that whilst unproductive among themselves, 

 these half-breeds might prove to be fertile when paired 

 with either Reeves' or the true pheasant. Save for this 

 untoward circumstance, everything appears favourable to 

 the introduction of this new and extremely interesting 

 game-bird. Coming from North China, Reeves' pheasant 

 has proved itself to be most hardy and well able to 

 withstand the rigours of our winters, even as felt in the 

 more elevated and exposed plantations of North Britain. 

 The strong and rapid flight of this bird at once 

 commends it to the notice of the gunner; moreover, 

 game-preservers have already found that it is quite a 

 simple matter to introduce these pheasants, for by 

 placing Reeves' eggs into the nests of our own wild birds 

 the young birds are thus easily reared in a state of nature. 



