Alabama, ipi 3. 47 



THE PHEASANT. 



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THE Pheasant family was originally represented on this conti- 

 nent only by the wild turkeys ; but during recent years cer- 

 tain foreign species have been successfully introduced, and are 

 now becoming so numerous as to require notice. 



The Ring-Necked Pheasant has been introduced from China, 

 and acclimatized in Washington, Oregon, California, British Co- 

 lumbia, and elsewhere with pronounced success. In many locali- 

 ties it has become so abundant that now it is shot by sportsmen as 

 upland game-birds once were killed in New York state. From 

 Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver the taxidermists are annually 

 called upon to mount scores of these birds, because they are so 

 beautiful that many of the sportsmen who shoot them cannot con- 

 sent to see their skins destroyed. 



Following the examples of the Pacific states, Ohio, New 

 York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and several other states both 

 east and west have entered seriously upon the business of breeding, 

 rearing and introducing this valuable bird at state expense. 



The Silver Pheasant, and the very beautiful Golden Pheasant, 

 both natives of China, have also been acclimatized in Washington 

 and Oregon. In view of the strong and hardy natures of both 

 these birds, there should be little difficulty in introducing them in 

 any well-wooded farming region east of the Mississippi, and south 

 of the fortieth parallel. 



