COMMON PHEASANT. 225 



Campbell, the Pheasant is now not uncommon, and appears to be 

 on the increase. In the Outer Hebrides it has likewise been in- 

 troduced into Lewis by Sir James Mathesou, who has obligingly 

 informed me that, since its introduction twelve or fifteen years 

 ago, it has become fairly established, although it has not increased 

 to the extent that might have been expected in a more favourable 

 locality. " The deep drains in the peat moss," writes Sir James, 

 " are supposed to be the cause of the death of the young chicks by 

 their falling into them. For some years at first there was a want 

 of cover for pheasants, but they are now better off in this respect, 

 and are increasing gradually. Some of the first brood wandered 

 about sixteen miles to the west side of the island, it is supposed, 

 in quest of cover." 



In some parts of Ayrshire and Argyleshire, especially on the 

 lands of Skipness in the latter county, a breed of Pheasants has 

 been established, and is now often met with namely, a cross 

 between Diard's Pheasant (P. versicolor) and the common species. 

 It is many years since it was first introduced into the last-men- 

 tioned district at considerable expense, but it appears now to have 

 become tolerably common, judging from the fact that it is occa- 

 sionally sent with other game to the poulterers' shops. 



In June of the present year (1869), through the kindness of 

 John Fleming, Esq. of London, I had the great pleasure of seeing 

 several beautiful birds of this breed in a state of liberty on the 

 estate of Kilkerran, Ayrshire. Mr Fleming has obligingly in- 

 formed me that his keeper has at present upwards of forty young 

 birds of this handsome variety under his care, for the purpose of 

 being turned out in the preserves as soon as they are able to shift 

 for themselves. I have also the gratification of being able to state 

 that Mr Fleming has succeeded in obtaining another cross between 

 the common species and Reeves' Pheasant (P. Reevesii) and will 

 probably have from ten to a dozen pairs this season, the produce of 

 five male birds of the last mentioned species imported by himself 

 direct from China. Mr Fleming very kindly afforded me an 

 opportunity, a few weeks ago, of seeing these superb birds in his 

 pheasantry. Besides the growing shrubs and trees, the ground is 

 partially covered with bundles of withered fir branches, so as to 

 provide both shade and concealment for the birds. When lying 

 crouched among these dried sticks, the Pheasants were almost 

 invisible, but the moment they were approached by the keeper, 



