184 PHEASANTS FOB GOVEBTS AND AVIABIE8 .. 



those regions to which by its size and habits it is specially- 

 adapted. With regard to its beauty and magnificence there 

 can be no doubt, and Lord Lilford speaks practically as to its 

 value as a bird for the table^ bat I have never had the 

 opportuniby of testing its value in this respect. 



The most important communication respecting the value 

 of the Reeves's pheasant as a game bird, and its rearing in 

 the forests of mountainous districtSj was made to the Field on 

 February 9, 1896, by Mr. J. G-. Millais. This was accom- 

 panied by a most graphic sketch of the flight of the bird, 

 which Mr. Millais has kindly given me permission to repro- 

 duce. Mr. Millais's letter is as follows : 



" I noticed a letter by Mr. Tegetmeier in the Field of 

 January 25, on the desirability of establishing Reeves's 

 pheasant as a British game bird ; and as I have seen an d shot 

 several of these birds at home, perhaps my observations on 

 the species may be of some interest. 



"There is no game bird, I think, in tbe world, which, if 

 introduced iuto suitable localities, would give greater pleasure 

 to both the sportsman and the naturalist than this grand 

 pheasant ; for grand he certainly is, both to the eye as well 

 as the object of aim to the expectant shooter. We all know, 

 when a cock Reeves's pheasant attains his full ^Deauty and 

 length of tail, what a splendid bird he is as he struts about 

 in his gorgeous trappings, and shows himself ofl: for the 

 benefit of his lady-love, but when the same bird is launched 

 in the air, and dashes along above the highest trees of a 

 wild Scotch landscape, leaving poor old Colchicusto scurry at 

 what seems but a slow pace behind him, I can assure your 

 readers that both the dignity and the pace are alike wonderful, 

 and a sight not easily to be forgotten. 



" Until the year 1890 I had seen and shot several Reeves's 

 pheasants, and under ordinary conditions of covert shooting 

 was content to consider the bird hardly a success from a 

 gunner's point of view. During that autumn, however, I 

 went to the annual covert shoot at. Guisachan, Lord Tweed- 



