By Ferd. J. Sudow, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 



63 



REEVES PHEASANTS— (Phasianus Reevesii). Adapted to covert 



These birds originate from China. Their flesh is very delicious and to a great many 

 people superior to that of any other pheasant. The head is covered by a hood of white sur- 

 rounded by a band of black. The eye is red with a white spot under it. The neck has a 

 broad ring of white; the feathers of the back and breast are of brilliant golden yellow, mar- 

 gined with black. The tail is formed of eighteen feathers, which are closely folded together, 

 so that the entire tail appears narrow. The color of the tail feathers is grayish white, edged 

 with crescent shaped bars of black. The longest tail feathers of this bird are six feet in length. 

 The hen is a rich brown of various shades with a lighter streak of brown under and over the 

 eye. Their weight is from four to six pounds each. The eggs are bluish brown, similar to 

 those of the Mongolian pheasant in color. 



It would be impossible to speak too highly of these noble birds — they are truly majestic. 

 There is very little' trouble attached to the rearing of them. For a game preserve, they are 

 unequaled and breed as easily as the common pheasant, hen averaging from fifty to sixty 

 eggs in season. They cover their eggs with grass. These pheasants do not crow like other 

 pheasants, but make a singular calling noise and chuckling, repeating the same note about 

 ten times, quite musically but not loud. They obtain their full plumage the first year. The 

 Reeves will cross with Ringnecks and Japanese. They are very quick on the wing, rapidly 

 attaining a good height in the air, giving good rocketing shots. A wide range of hilly country 

 is best suited to the Reeves pheasant. The Reeves in flight is a wonderful sight to the eye 

 and one not easily forgotten and also as an object of aim to the sportsmen. The naturalist 

 knows no grander bird. The male bird displays his plumage by swelling up and drawing in 

 the head as though ready to burst, and then jumping stiff-legged in a big circle around his 

 hen, his long tail being held almost straight up. 



Keep the soil in pheasant yards well loosened along the wire fences in order to prevent 

 the birds from getting sore and callous feet as they are walking all day long. 



