Pheasants Birds 
offense and defense. They occupy a certain territory 
upon which no other pheasants are allowed tointrude. 
The cock pheasant is a fierce fighter, and by his cun- 
ning tactics can defeat a bird much larger than him- 
self. When fighting with a rooster, for instance, he 
will fight fiercely for a few moments, then fly up into 
a tree and take a little rest, and then dash down 
again upon his bewildered adversary. 
In a wild state the pheasant mother makes her 
rude nest of leaves and grass upon the ground, and 
there lays about a dozen eggs, which are olive brown 
in color. She is a patient sitter, and vigilant in pro- 
tecting her nest; but when domesticated she is likely 
to shirk her responsibilities, and usually the eggs are 
hatched by hens, especially by the motherly little 
Bantams. 
The wild pheasants roost in trees nights, and hide 
in the under-brush during the daytime, coming 
forth into the fields in the evening to feed. Their 
food consists largely of insects, grain, seeds, acorns 
and fresh herbage, like young clover. These birds 
only take flight when hard-pressed. 
Although the pheasant, described above, was the 
original species introduced into Europe, another 
species has been interbred with it, until it is difficult 
to secure a pure blooded English bird. 
This is another popular pheasant, the Ring-neck 
species, which is a native of China, and Eastern 
Siberia and has been bred there in captivity for cen- 
turies. It resembles the English bird, except that it 
has a white ring encircling the neck. The Ring-neck 
pheasant was brought into Oregon about thirty years 
ago, and was strongly protected for ten years; it has 
now become thoroughly established there. 
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