CHAPTER V 

 PHEASANT REARING 



Best for Beginning. The family of the Phasianida, or 

 pheasants, presents a new realm of opportunity and interest 

 to those who love to propagate and cultivate wild birds. 

 One species, the ring-necked pheasant, has become widely 

 naturalized in many states of the Union, and is as much an 

 American bird as the English sparrow, withal a much more 

 useful one. This is preeminently the species for would-be 

 propagators to begin with. It is easily raised by the methods 

 described in this book, presenting less difficulties than any 

 other species of the group. Being wonderfully hardy, it 

 thrives in spite of severe cold and deep snow, especially if 

 food is provided. Its flesh is excellent, and it brings good 

 prices, either dead or alive. At present indications it seems 

 likely to become one of the principal game-birds of America. 



Definition. To avoid confusion of terms, it may be well 

 to state that another species known as the English pheasant 

 was imported from western Asia into Europe about the time 

 of Alexander the Great. It is quite similar to the ring-neck, 

 the most notable difference being the lack of the white neck- 

 ring or collar. About a century ago the ring-neck was in- 

 troduced into England and crossed freely with the other 

 species, until now there are very few of pure blood, and both 

 names are applied rather indiscriminately to the same bird. 

 The pure ring-neck, direct from its native haunts in China, 

 was introduced into Oregon, beginning in 1880. The 



75 



