:H)(') Reeves's Pheasant. 



about that of the male Beeves, but the plumage does not in the 

 least partake of that of either parent : it is very much like 

 that of the copper pheasant of China (of which I had several 

 some years since), but not so dark. The chief colour 

 is a soft light brown, running into a light copper ; the 

 marking on the head is somewhat after the Eeeves ; the tail 

 very long." 



Through the kindness of Sir Digby Pigott I have received 

 some interesting statements respecting the fertility of cross- 

 bred Eeeves, and other pheasants, as reared on Lord Ducie's 

 estate. His lordship, writing to Sir Digbj^ says : 



" My keeper knows of no case where hybrid Eeeves have 

 proved fertile. 



" Eeeves hybridizes with Common, Gold, and Silver 

 pheasant, but for one generation only. 



" The hybrid between Eeeves and Gold has occurred once 

 in the wild state and once in confinement . 



" Eeeves and Common pheasant makes a fine cross. The 

 resulting bird has a strange cry. I can detect them 200 to 

 300 yards, as it is very loud. 



" Eeeves in a wild state produces about five eggs, and 

 rarely rears more than four young ; the Gold pheasant pro- 

 duces six to seven eggs. But natural or wild breeding is 

 rare here, owing to the foxes. 



" The Gold pheasant seems to prefer the ridges of Car- 

 ijoniferous limestone. 



" The Eeeves pheasant strays sporadically. By rearing 

 forty to fifty annually I can keep up the number. 



" The Gold pheasant is abundant here. Traces of an 

 Amherst cock (long since dead) are to be seen in the white 

 tippet and red tinge of the crest feathers ; this latter sign 

 gradually wears out. The ' tippet ' seems to be more per- 

 manent. 



" Silver and Eeeves pheasants have bred together. The 

 result is a certain amount of brown colour on the back and in 

 the tail feathers. I have httle experience of this cross." 



