86 BIRDS 



prevalent that they are unduly delicate and difficult to keep 

 in confinement. It is the writer's hope that the following 

 pages may serve in some degree to dispel this fallacy. 



In the care of pheasants in captivity, it is first necessary 

 to note that there are two distinct methods of treatment. 

 One of these, the rearing of game pheasants for stocking 

 purposes, and also of certain of the more common of the 

 so-called fancy species, is beginning to be pursued on a large 

 scale in this country. This system requires almost unlimited 

 space, which is the basis on which rests all hope of success in 

 producing large numbers of any game bird. It is a subject 

 of great interest and is now receiving the earnest attention 

 of many able men. 



On the other hand, the very fact of its bigness excludes 

 it from the field of this work. The bird-lover who keeps 

 a pair of pheasants, or even a series of the more attractive 

 species, cannot be entirely guided by the methods of game 

 farmers on a large scale. His field forms another branch of 

 aviculture, and to an attempt to aid him in this more in- 

 tensive system the writer will confine himself. 



Housing and Feeding 



With a very few exceptions, the pheasants are extremely 

 hardy and require no housing beyond shelter from the 

 cold winds of winter and the beating sun of the summer 

 months. For the first purpose, a low, simple shed, pref- 

 erably of southern exposure and provided with suitable 

 perches, is quite sufficient. So long as the biting wind 

 and, more especially, dampness are carefully excluded, 

 no artificial heat is required, for these birds are able to 

 endure very low temperatures without discomfort. 



A large, well-drained run should be provided, well fur- 

 nished with shrubs and bushes, a grassy portion being 



