are 



PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



many sandy dunes, it follows that the Mongolian Pheasants 

 have to be good foragers. Extreme heat frequently prevails in 

 Mongolia, consequently the birds are accustomed to a climate 

 in which opposite conditions prevail, therefore this may account 

 for their particular suitability to British game preserves. 



In some respects the Mongolian Pheasant resembles 

 P. Torquatus, but of the two it is the more massive bird, and 

 possesses certain other features that is at once distinctive 

 from the Chinese species. 



It has a white ring round the neck, though the ring is 

 incomplete in front, the intervening area being the same 

 colour as that of the breast, orange-red, with green or purplish 

 reflections. The wing coverts are white, which serves to distin- 

 guish it from the other species. The rump is dark maroon, 

 with green reflections, merging into that of purple. The tail 

 feathers are barred with either brown or brownish-red mark- 

 ings. In general appearance the feathering of the bird is 

 not unlike that of Phasianus Colchicus, though a much more 

 massively built bird throughout. 



The total length of the adult male is about 36 inches, 

 and the female 10 inches less. The Mongolian hen crossed 

 with a Japanese cock (/". Versicola) produces good hybrids, 

 which are prolific, strong on the wing, and early to reach 

 maturity, but the best cross of all is the half-bred Mongolian, 

 i.e., half P. Mongolicus and half P. Colchicus, the product 

 being the most magnificent bird it is possible to breed for 

 sporting purposes, and such a hybrid is a distinct advance 

 upon any pure or mixed variety of Pheasant hitherto known. 



Hardihood, size, soundness of constitution, great strength 

 of flight, early maturity, fertility, adaptability to circumstances, 

 and quality of the flesh, are the characteristics possessed by 

 these birds. 



Three-quarter bred Mongolians are in great demand, in 



38 



