BROWN EARED-PHEASANT 171 



specimens killed in July had their crops filled with the leaves of Cytisus; while those pro- 

 cured in winter contained nuts, various kernels, leaves of mugwort, ferns and, above all, 

 roots of orchids and other succulent plants, beetles, worms and caterpillars." 



Water is an essential— apparently a daily requirement— and, unlike birds like the 

 cheer, which are able to get along for extended periods without actually drinking from 

 streams, these Chinese pheasants make a daily afternoon pilgrimage downward from the 

 slopes to the pure, clear streams which intersect all the larger valleys and side ravines 

 of such mountainous regions as Shansi. 1 have watched through high-power glasses a 

 flock of about a dozen birds travel slowly down the opposite slope of the valley and, 

 reaching the stream, spread out in a long line and drink deeply of the icy water. Then 

 they turned and more steadily, with fewer desultory stops and side wanderings, retraced 

 their steps upward toward the scrub, finally disappearing into the low forest of pines or 

 birches, bound for some roosting-place which would place them as much as possible out 

 of the reach of their terrestrial enemies. 



I was never able to make certain that I had found a roost of these birds, but 

 circumstantial evidence of plenty of sign, and clear indications that a number of large, 

 heavy-bodied birds spent their nights in a small group of pines, and especially the fact 

 that they reached the higher branches by leaps to successive branches, left little room for 

 doubt that these pheasants were the occupiers of the roost. The pines were not over 

 fifteen feet high, and until a grove of birches had shot up to windward they had evidently 

 received the full force of the winters' gales and most of the branches were splayed out to 

 the south-east, and on these the birds perched at night, protected from view by the 

 dense foliage and by the height from enemies on the ground. 



As I have said, the ring-necked pheasants inhabit the same region as those of 

 which I am writing, but I never observed them in close proximity to one another, and as 

 the former are seen singly or in small families and keep to the lower levels, there is 

 small chance of any keen competition. As to the enemies of the Eared-pheasants, we 

 may mention at least three mammals which probably take toll. These, in the order of 

 their deadliness, are foxes, leopards, and wolves. The foxes, of which I had glimpses of 

 two and saw abundant signs of others, should, logically, easily exterminate such large, 

 heavy-bodied birds, and why they do not I could never even hazard a guess. The 

 Eared-pheasants, passing through high, dense grass and scrub, surely offer most 

 tempting lures for a fox or other creature lying in wait. And yet here are foxes far 

 from rare, and here are the pheasants in fairly abundant numbers, and the solution of 

 the problem is yet to be found. Leopards are almost as abundant as the foxes, although 

 I saw only their tracks during my stay. The wolves are far rarer than either, but if a 

 gang of these creatures started systematically to run down a pheasant it would seem not 

 a difficult matter. However it is, the pheasants thrive in spite of their four-footed 

 enemies ; whether the foxes are content with the voles and hares, and the leopards and 

 wolves with the roe and musk deer and the wild boars, I shall never know. 



I saw no tragedy and only once observed the birds even threatened with danger. 

 This was when an eagle appeared, soaring high over the opposite slope and apparently 

 intent on some intended prey immediately beneath it. It showed three conspicuous 

 white marks on each wing, one of which was a circular speculum in the centre of the 

 wing, from which came their Chinese name meaning " Eagle of the Three Eyes." The 



