Ibl79.] PHEASANTS IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDENS. 1 I ,') 



originally introduced have become almost extinct ia Europe', we 

 have nevertheless succeeded of late years in breeding two or three 

 other more recently acquired species, concerning which I have a few 

 remarks to offer to the Society, principally as an introduction to the 

 valuable notes which our head keeper, Mr. Benjamin Misselbrook, 

 who has for many years had the breeding Gallinaceous birds under 

 his care, has at my request drawn up upon this subject. 



1. The Argus Pheasant {Argus gig atiteus). 



The first birds of this species j)0ssessed by the Society were two 

 cocks, presented by Mr. J. G. Fanshawe, F.Z.S., in May 187'^. Mr. 

 Fanshawe informs me that these birds were sent to him bv Mr. Arthur 

 N. Birch, F.Z.S., late Colonial Secretary at Singapore, where Argus 

 Pheasants are frequently brought to market alive. The birds are 

 caught by the natives in springes in the jungles, tied up in palm- 

 leaves, so as to be prevented from knocking themselves about, and 

 brought to market alive, the weather being so hot that the birds 

 cannot be conveyed when dead, so as to be useful for food. Thus 

 obtained they are frequently placed in aviaries, where they soon 

 become tame, and are killed when they are required for the table. 

 It was from some of the tame stocks in the aviaries that Mr. Fan- 

 shawe's birds were derived. 



In July lc^73 Sir Harry Ord, Governor of the Straits Settlements, 

 presented ug with two hen Argus Pheasants, jirobabl/ derived from the 

 same source ; and we thus became possessed of two penect pairs of this 

 bird. Before the commencement of the last breedi.ig-season we had 

 lost one of our cock birds ; but there still remained in the Gardens, 

 besides the other cock and the two hens above mentioned, a third 

 hen, received on deposit in 18/3. I subjoin Mr. Misselb 4's 

 report on the breeding of these birds during the season of 187t 



Report on the Aryus Pheasants, 1878. By B. Misselbroo 



This season there were four adult examples of the Argus Pheasant 

 in the Gardens, one cock and three bens. The hens were placed in 

 adjoining compartments, and the cock sliifted from one to the other 

 about every alternate day. 



Hen number one laid two eggs, one on March the 7th and oir t>.i 

 March the 9th. As she did not seem inclined to sit herself, I jnacc. 

 these eggs under a bantam hen. After thirty days, no young birds 

 appearing, the eggs were taken away, when one of them was foun 1 

 to contain a dead bird, and the other was addled. 



Hen number two laid two eggs, one on May 27th, the other on 

 May 29th. These eggs were also i)ut under a bantam hen ; and after 

 twenty-four days' sitting two birds were hatched. 'Joth these did 

 very well for five weeks, when they were atacked with worm in the 

 windpipe; and both, unfortunately, died. 



' The Impeyan {Lophophorus inipcyanus) has not bred with us since 1871, 

 and has, I believe, likewise failed on the Guutinent. The CVossoptilon yCros- 

 soptilon mantchiiriciim) and the Cheer (Fhasianus waUichii) have both beeoujc 

 scarce ; and others (e. g. Ph. scemmcrringi and Ceriornis safgra) seem to ha\ e been 

 altogether lost. 



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