OF VIRGINIA 87 
INTRODUCED BREEDER. 
FAMILY PLASIANID/E.—PHEASANTS 
AND GROUSE. 
Phasianus torquatus (Ginelin), 
Ring-necked Pheasant. 
Of all the pheasant family introduced into Virginia, 
this bird probably is the most likely to become 
numerous; in fact, a good start has been made already in 
Warwick County, where some twenty birds were liberated 
by me in 1907, and which, from observations, leads me to 
believe are increasing rapidly. We have, however, a 
number of causes against their rapid increase, particularly 
the ever-hunting negro, with his old army musket, dogs 
running at large at all times, and the numerous forest fires 
at all seasons, and no progressive method for protecting 
and increasing them until a foothold is established; all of 
which tend to make it a matter of some years before any 
great number can be shot for game. That they are hardy 
birds and can increase rapidly was demonstrated in Wash- 
ington State, where in five vears from twenty pair liber- 
ated, the increase was so that fifteen hundred pair were 
killed the first open season for shooting. My, A. Croonen- 
burg, of Lynnhaven, Va., has also been instrumental in in- 
troducing this bird in his section, as well as the Golden and 
Silver varieties. The eggs, ten to sixteen in number, are 
laid about the tenth of May with us, a glossy, unmarked, 
greenish-buff color. Size 1.52x1.32. The nest is a slight 
hollow scratched in the ground under or near some tree, 
or thick bush, or briars, with a few dry leaves or 
grasses for a lining. The female does all the incubat- 
