CHAPTER X11: 
PHEASANTS ADAPTED FOR THE COVERT (CONTINUED). 
SGMMERRING’S PHEASANT (PHASIANUS 
SGUMERRINGII). 
: ZZ); \EMMERRING’S pheasant is a second exquisitely beautiful species 
| inhabiting Japan, in parts of which it is very numerous, being 
commonly exposed for sale in-the markets of Nagasaki. In 
other districts of the country its place seems to be supplied by 
the Phasianus versicolor. The bird was known to Temminck by 
the dried skins; but recently the living animal has been intro- 
va duced into aviaries in Europe, and it has bred in the zoological 
gardens in London and Antwerp. In the Regent’s Park Garden it 
first bred, according to Mr. Bartlett, in 1865, when the female laid 
ten eggs, but only a few birds were hatched, and the young birds died in a few 
days. Since then the breeding has been more successful, and mature specimens 
have been reared. 
The species, however, is but ill-adapted to breed in confinement, as the males 
are excessively pugnacious—not only destroying one another, but even killing the 
females. This tendency is probably developed by captivity, and no doubt, if placed 
in a free range, Seemmerring’s pheasant would prove as fertile as the other species, 
but the experiment has never yet been tried. Mr. Bartlett, writing of this species 
in Elliot’s monograph, says :—‘‘ Amongst the Phasianidze some species are remark- 
able for their pugnacious and fierce dispositions; not only the males, but frequently 
the females destroy each other. The want of sufficient space and means of escape 
among bushes, shrubs, and trees is no doubt the cause of many females being 
killed when kept in confinement; and this serious misfortune is unhappily of no 
rare occurrence. After the cost and trouble of obtaining pairs of these beautiful 
birds, and they have recovered from their long confinement on the voyage, their 
owner is desirous of reaping a reward by obtaining an abundant supply of eggs as 
the birds approach the breeding season, when, alas! he finds that some disturbance 
