138 



POPnrAR OPFICIAT, GDIDE. 



MANCHURIAN EARED THEASANT. 





of the changes so often necessary in the runways, it is in- 

 expedient to attempt an end-to-end enumeration. 



The Golden Pheasant, {Chrysolophns pictns), is a uni- 

 versal favorite; and it Avell deserves its Avide popularity. 

 Although small, it is as beautiful as the most entrancing 

 sunset ever seen. It is verj^ alert and chic, it is so good 

 tempered that we can have the rare pleasure of seeing a 

 whole flock in one runway, and it is a good breeder. To 

 crown all these fine qualities, it is so hardy, and so com- 

 petent a "rustler" in seeking food that under fair con- 

 ditions it is easily transplanted from its native home in 

 western and southern China. It has been introduced and 

 acclimatized with gratifying success in Oregon, Washington, 

 southern British Columbia near the Pacific coast, and else- 

 where. In the shooting season, the shops of the taxider- 

 mists of Vancouver and Portland are filled with these gor- 

 geous creatures, which appreciative sportsmen have found 

 "too beautiful to eat." One might as well try to describe 

 a sunset as to pen a mental picture of the wonderful com- 

 bination of golden yellow, orange, lapis-lazuli blue and deep 

 crimson that appear in the plumage of this gorgeous bird. 



The Amherst Pheasant, {Chrysolophns amherstiae), is the 

 nearest relative of the golden species, and also a strong can- 

 didate for first honors on the' score of beauty. As far as 

 you can see the cock bird, you can recognize it by its mar- 

 vellous capo of pure white feathers marked with semicircles 



