THE SILVER PHEASANT. 223 



mountains about 100 miles from Amoy (Province Fokein), 

 but I have never met with the species in my rambles." 



In his recent handbook on Game Birds, Mr. W. Ogilvie- 

 Graut writes: "^ According to the Abbe David the Silver 

 Pheasant is becoming very rare in a wild state, and is only 

 found in South China, towards the North of Fokien, and 

 perhaps in Chekiang. He says that most of the Golden 

 and Silver pheasants that one sees at Shanghai come from 

 Japan, where these two Chinese species are reared in captivity. 

 The Silver Pheasant is known in China by the names of Ing-ky 

 (Silver Fowl) and Pae-ky (White Fowl). Very little indeed 

 is known of the habits of this extremely fine species in a wild 

 state, though it has long been one of the commonest aviary 

 birds. The males are, unfortunately, so extremely pugnacious 

 and such big heavy birds that they light with, and often kill, 

 any other male pheasant living in the same aviary, and for 

 this i-eason must be kept separate." 



From their large size, commanding appearance, and the 

 beauty of the markings. Silver Pheasants have long been 

 favourites in our aviaries. They have the additional recom- 

 mendation of being exceedingly hardy, of laying freely in 

 captivity, and of being easy to rear when young. They also 

 become perfectly tame, feeding freely from the hand. These 

 birds could be readily domesticated, if it were thought 

 desirable to do so. I have known several instances where 

 they have been allowed to run at full liberty, and have seen 

 the birds sufficiently tame to come and stand before a window, 

 waiting for their accustomed treat at the hands of the members 

 of the family. The hens, though not usually allowed to do 

 so, will readily hatch their own eggs, and attend upon their 

 chickens with all the care of common fowls. I have recently 

 seen a pair belonging to Mr. Clarence Bartlett, in a moderate- 

 sized aviary, the hen of which had laid, hatched, and was 

 rearing a strong, healthy brood of young, the cock being- 

 active in defence of his family, and attacking most viciously 

 any person going into the inclosure. No game cock could be 



