148 A MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANTS 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 

 The exact outlines of the range of this pheasant will not become known until a 

 thorough reconnaissance of the fauna of Central China is made. We know, however, 

 that in the southern part of its range it does not live on the lowlands and plains, 

 so that by keeping to the foothills of the mountains, from two to five thousand feet, we 

 may trace the distribution of the bird as follows : along the valley of the Yangtse 

 from eastern Szechuan, through and including most of Hupeh, and possibly extending 

 as far to the east as Anhwei. From north-eastern Hupeh a long, rather narrow finger 

 leads along the contiguous borders of Shensi and Honan, Shansi and Chili, to the 

 latitude of Pekin, where it is found only occasionally. The centre of its rano-e is most 

 certainly Hupeh. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT 

 Before detailing our rather meagre knowledge of Reeves's Pheasant I will repeat 

 the account of a hunting trip (Creagh, ''The Field," May 1866), which will supplement 

 the observations I have already presented : — 



" It was from Ichang, a post at the head-waters of the Yangtse, the great river of 

 China, or rather where that river leaves its gorges, that I started with the stream 

 to a large valley where I knew Reeves's Pheasants had been seen. It is useless to ask 

 any questions of the countryfolk, who will always say 'yes.' I therefore landed and 

 walked along a wide valley, with high perpendicular mountains of conglomerate on either 

 side, and beetling over small woods of cypress. The birds live on the berry of this tree, 

 and fly from one wood to another. They will never show themselves if they can avoid 

 it, and, through their great fleetness when running, steal away before the dogs. Some- 

 times, however, when taken by surprise, they rise, and then only by great caution can 

 a single sportsman hope to get them. Surrounding the small woods with several 

 guns is the best way to bag them. I think they drive away the common pheasant, for I 

 have never seen them together. This may, perhaps, be due to the fact of their living on 

 difi"erent food. I had with me at the time a spaniel and a red Irish setter, and, as the 

 day was fine and clear, walked on quietly until I came to what appeared a good country. 

 The hills here were lower, and the wood fairly dense, but free of undergrowth. A 

 woodcutter told me he had seen several pheasants a few days ago, but could give 

 me no further information, so, tying up my spaniel, I determined to work quietly along 

 with the setter. Although it was January the day was hot, and I was obliged to divest 

 myself of my coat as I struggled up the hill. I worked along the lower part without 

 coming on any scent. Suddenly the setter got very busy, and moved along, showing 

 me that he had some large game. I followed on as well as I could over the broken 

 ground. False scent, back again ; then the dog took a turn up the almost perpendicular 

 rock. Good gracious ! thought I, how can birds get up there and leave any scent ? 

 They had evidently helped themselves with their wings. I was determined to follow, 

 and brought the setter back to a place where we succeeded in getting on to the upper 

 ledge after a little scrambling. Having arrived at the top, as I had anticipated, we soon 

 came on the scent again, and away went the dog, very cautiously setting every now and 

 again. Just ahead of us now was a stone wall. I was very much afraid that my game 

 would rise just as I was getting over, so I made all preparation for a surprise, and at the 



