186 PHEASANTS FOB COVEBTS AND AVIABIE8. 



bracken, fallen trees, mountain burns, and, above all, rongli 

 heather. These cause the birds to get up almost at once. 

 The trees being high and dense assist their elevation, and 

 force them to a respectable height from the very start. 



"In conclusion, I should like to make one observation on 

 the flight of Eeeves's pheasant which I have never seen touched 

 on before, and which is both interesting and remarkable. 

 Eeeves's pheasant has the power to stop suddenly when 

 travelling at its full speed, which may be estimated at nearly 

 double that of an ordinary pheasant; and this is performed 

 by an extraordinary movement when the bird makes up its 

 mind to alight on some high tree that has taken its fancy. 

 This bird may be said to be furnished with a ' Westinghouse 

 brake'' in the shape of its tail, otherwise the feat would 

 be impossible. By a sudden and complete turn of the body, 

 both the expanded wings and tail are presented as a resistance 

 to the air, and the position of the bird is reversed. This acts 

 as an immediate buffer and brake, and by this means the bird 

 is enabled to drop head downwards into the tree within the 

 short space of eight or ten yards. This is such a very remark- 

 able movement, and one which of necessity requires some 

 illustrative explanation, that I send you herewith a sketch of 

 it, which may be of interest." 



Mr. J. Mayes, head-keeper to the late Maharajah Dhuleep 

 Sing, writing from Elvedon, in 1877, stated: "1 have bred 

 the Reeves's pheasant for the last five or six years, rearing 

 them by hand, and have had pretty good luck with them the 

 last two years, having succeeded in rearing about sixty in the 

 two seasons ; but I find they are much healthier turned out 

 than when penned up. The soil here is dry and sandy, 

 which seems to suit them very well. Two years ago I penned 

 up fifty very fine young birds, about half-grown ; but they 

 swelled very much about the head, and went completely blind, 

 and about twenty of them died, but those that we have turned 

 out seem to be in very good health and condition. As regards 

 hybridizing, I know they will do so, as three years ago a hen 



