REEVES'S PHEASANT. 185 



pheasant could be confined to those regions to which by its 

 size and habits it is specially adapted. With regard to its 

 beauty and magnificence there can be no doubt, and Lord 

 Lilford speaks practically as to its value as a bird for the 

 table, but I have never had the opportunity of testing its 

 value in this respect. 



The most important communication respecting the value 

 of the Reeves's pheasant as a game bird, and its rearing in 

 the forests of mountainous districts, was made to the Field on 

 February 9, 1896, by Mr. (now Sir) J. G. Millais. This was 

 accompanied by a most graphic sketch of the flight of the 

 bird, which Sir J. G. Millais has kindly given me permission 

 to reproduce. Sir J. Cx. Millais's letter is as follows : 



" I noticed a letter by Mr. Tegetmeier in the Field of 

 January 25, on the desirability of establishing Reeves's 

 pheasant as a British game bird ; and as I have seen and shot 

 several of these birds at home, perhaps my observations on 

 the species may be of some interest. 



" There is no game bird, I think, in the world, which, if 

 introduced into suitable localities, would give greater pleasure 

 to both the sportsman and the naturalist than this grand 

 pheasant ; for grand he certainly is, both to the eye as well 

 as the object of aim to the expectant shooter. We all know 

 when a cock Reeves's pheasant attains his full beauty and 

 length of tail, what a splendid bird he is as he struts about in 

 his gorgeous trappings, and shows himself off for the benefit 

 of his lady-love, but when the same bird is launched in the 

 air, and dashes along above the highest trees of a wild Scotch 

 landscape, leaving poor old Colchicus to scurry at what seems 

 but a slow pace behind him, I can assure your readers that 

 both the dignity and the pace are alike wonderful, and a sight 

 not easily to be forgotten. 



" Until the year 1890 I had seen and shot several Reeves's 

 pheasants, and under ordinary conditions of covert shooting 

 was content to consider the bird hardly a success from a 

 gunner's point of view. During that autumn, however, T 



