192 The Mongolian Pheasant. 



hand, similar bars of black and pale buff appear alternately 

 but arranged in straight lines across the feather. This straight 

 marking with buff and black lines appears on the feathers of 

 the tail coverts of the female hybrids between either the 

 Chinese and Mongolian or the common pheasant and 

 Mongolian, and remains for generations. Just as the white 

 ring now generally seen on the necks of the cocks of the common 

 pheasant has remained as a mark of his descent from the 

 Chinese bird, so these cross bars on the tail coverts of hybrid 

 hens point to a Mongolian ancestry. 



The directions published by the Massachusetts Game 

 Commission as to rearing the supposed Mongolian, but really 

 Chinese Eing-necked pheasant, successfully on the maggots 

 of the blue-bottle, or blow-fly, where ants' eggs cannot be 

 obtained, are so important that although they were issued in 

 error as to the species of pheasant, I think they are well worth 

 reproduction, and therefore insert the following extract from 

 the report : — 



" The arrangement for raising maggots is simple and easily 

 constructed. A small house 6ft. by 8ft. and 6ft. high was 

 framed and covered with matched boards. Four windows 

 were cut in it, but, instead of glass, they Avere covered on the 

 outside with jin. mesh wire cloth, and solid shutters hinged 

 on the outside. A ventilator Sin. square and 12ft. high was 

 attached to the roof. By opening the door and windows the 

 house was sufficiently ventilated in a short time to do what 

 work was necessary inside. Across one side, near the top, 

 and about lOin. from the boarding, a joist was fastened, thickly 

 studded with small meat hooks ; 20in. below this were placed 

 hopper-shaped boxes, 18in. square at the top, 12in. at bottom, 

 and Tin. deep, the bottom covered with Jin. mesh wire cloth. 

 Below these were arranged tight drawers 18in. square and 4in. 

 deep, around the tops of which were nailed strips of tin pro- 

 jecting inward about fin. to prevent the maggots crawling out. 



" After manj' experiments it was found that sheep plucks 

 were the cheapest and most available material for the purpose, 



