NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 137 



front, or a closed room with one small door and a large 

 window. 



This beautiful and generous installation, 240 feet long, 

 with 48 runways, accommodates the true Pheasants of the 

 world, the largest group of birds of the Pheasant Family 

 (Phasianidae), which in turn is one of the grand divisions 

 of the sportsman's own Order Gallinae, or upland game- 

 birds. Of the whole Order Gallinae, — which includes the 

 Grouse, Ptarmigan, Partridges, Pheasants, Turkeys, Guinea- 

 Fowls, Jungle Fowl, Quails, Brush-Turkeys, Curassows and 

 Guans — the group of the Pheasants can justly claim the dis- 

 tinction of possessing the most beautiful birds. Indeed, I 

 think there is not to be found in the whole avian world a 

 group of game birds all the members of which, taken species 

 by species, are so gorgeously apparelled as these. 



In this brief notice of what is really one of the finest 

 pheasant collections in the world, it is not possible to do 

 more than direct the visitors' attention to its chief items of 

 interest. It must be stated well in advance, however, that 

 these are birds of very shy and retiring habit, which owe 

 their existence as species to the success with which they 

 retreat from danger, and conceal themselves from man and 

 beast. These birds must not be forced to spend all the day- 

 light hours in their runways : for some of them could not 

 long survive such exposure and excitement. To preserve 

 their lives, and keep them in health, they must have the 

 privilege of retiring into their shelters whenever they de- 

 sire. But they roam in and out, and by the exercise of a 

 little effort in returning to them, the interested visitor will 

 find no great difficulty in seeing all the species. 



There are few species of pheasants whose members are 

 sufficiently peace-loving that many individuals can be kept 

 together without deadly combats. Of most species save the 

 golden, silver and ring-neck, the cocks are so quarrelsome 

 that even two can not be kept together; and this fact con- 

 stitutes a handicap upon those whose duty it is to maintain 

 the full strength of the exhibition. If a rare and quarrel- 

 some male pheasant dies unexpectedly, it is not always pos- 

 sible to fill the vacancy on short notice. 



Out of the half-dozen species which claim first place in 

 an enumeration based on beauty and luxuriance of plum- 

 age — the Amherst, Eeeve, golden, silver, impeyan, Argus 

 or Soemmerring — it is difficult to choose. Each has its share 

 of strong points, and it seems as if there is no "finest of 

 all." Let us take them as they come to mind, for by reason 



