22 PHEASANTS 



A new pheasant was discovered by the 

 Afghan Boundary Commission of 1884-5, 

 more than 400 of this hitherto unknown 

 species being shot on a march of 30 miles 

 up the swampy bed of a river. This was 

 named the Prince of Wales pheasant 

 {P. principalis), for whose presence in this 

 country we are indebted to the enterprise 

 of Colonel Sunderland. 



The experiment of importing eggs was 

 first tried, but this proved — in the words 

 of its author — ' a dismal and costly failure.' 

 The Colonel thenabandoned half-measures, 

 and in 1902 went himself to the East ; 

 here he succeeded in collecting a number 

 of cocks and hens which he transported in 

 safety to Conholt Park in Hampshire, 

 They arrived in February 1903, and 

 many young birds were safely reared the 

 same year, one pen of hens averaging 30 

 fertile eggs apiece. 



This ringless pheasant is much of a size 

 with our old black-neck, differing chiefly 

 in having the white wing coverts of the 

 Mongolian, and a bronze -red rump. 



