Practical Bird-Keeping.



and utter the curious twittering whistle which is so strongly out

of harmony with the bird's powerful build and sturdy appearance.

We never saw him down at feeding times, but no doubt he de¬

scended occasionally. It reminded me of Wolff’s famous picture

of the Capercaillies’ display on the pine bough, but I have always

considered that our subject is strictly monogamous.


The cock Monal’s ordinary display is striking enough.

His chestnut tail is spread wide and brought forward rapidly

over his back and withdrawn with a curious waving movement,

while his wings are lowered so as to expose the white patch on

the lower crest. He twists his head sideways and flattens his

neck plumage so as to show the glorious metallic lustre to the

best advantage. This part of the performance may be at some

distance from the hen, who is, however, always visible to him.

Presently he will advance towards his mate with a swaggering

stride, with crest nodding, finally reaching her side by three

or four frog-like leaps, and bends down touching the ground

with his beak, with tail still extended to the full, the hen bird

all the while, to the eyes of the human observer at all events,

appearing utterly unconcerned.


With regard to the large family of Pheasants and their

allies, I have little to suggest that is likely to be fresh to my

fellow aviculturists, as these birds are so extensively kept. The

true Pheasants all appear to be perfectly hardy in our climate,

and to my eyes they show no substantial differences of consti¬

tution or habit from the ordinary bird of our covers. But it

must not be expected that they will be so prolific as the latter,

for no doubt the power of producing 30—40 or even more eggs

in a season is the result of semi-domestication, and of being kept

for generations in pens to lay and not to hatch and rear. I have

found Versicolor hens very poor layers, and pure Mongolian hens

often lay very scantily, if at all in their second year, but much

better in succeeding seasons. Keepers report favourably of the

Prince of Wales’ Pheasant as a hardy bird to rear, and as a

species which leaves its impress (in plumage) upon his cross¬

bred stock for many years.


As to straying, I can see no difference; they all like to

escape from overcrowded ground.



