THE RESULT OF TWO HOURS SHOOTING, LANE CO., OREGON. 



THE MONGOLIAN PHEASANT. 



Eugene, Ore. 



Editor Recreation: This bird, intro- 

 duced into Oregon about 20 years ago, 

 from China, by Judge O. N. Denny, has 

 multiplied until, in the prairie sections of 

 western Oregon, it outnumbers any other 

 game bird. The reason of the great in- 

 crease probably lies in the fact that it 

 hatches 2 broods, of 16 to 20, each season. 

 When the chicks are about 3 weeks old the 

 hen turns the family over to the care of the 

 cock, she laying again. The cock is not a 

 Mormon, in any sense of the word. He se- 

 lects one hen, and " forsaking all others 

 cleaves unto her." Hence, to breed these 

 birds successfully it is essential that a cock 

 be provided for each hen. 



The Mongolian pheasant is a prairie bird 

 and is seldom found in or about the timber. 

 He likes the tall grass, ferns, wheat stub- 

 bles and low bushes, such as the wild rose 

 and the buckbrush. After the young birds 

 reach full growth, they do not congregate 

 in large flocks, as do the prairie chickens, 

 but are found alone, in pairs, or in small 

 flocks of 5 or 6. They feed on grain, insects 

 and green vegetables, such as red clover, 

 cabbage, etc. These birds are great favor- 

 ites with sportsmen. The magnificent 



plumage of the cock almost rivals that of 

 pea-fowl in beauty. His prevailing colors 

 are gold and bronze, with touches of black. 

 He also has a clear white ring about the 

 neck. The head, and upper half of the neck, 

 has a bluish green or changeable shade, 

 similar to that of the mallard duck. 



The pheasant gives out a stronger scent 

 than the blue grouse or the prairie chicken, 

 and lies better to the dog. During the open 

 season, September 1st to December 1st, an 

 hour's drive in any direction, from Eugene, 

 will bring one into the shooting grounds. 

 The law limits a shooter to 20 birds each 

 day; but this number is often killed in a few 

 hours. The accompanying picture shows 

 the result of 2 hours' sport, within an hour's 

 drive from Eugene. 



With suitable enclosures and a reason- 

 able amount of patience, these birds can be 

 successfully propagated anywhere if the cli- 

 mate be not too severe. They cannot be 

 tamed or domesticated. After months of 

 captivity, they are as wild as when first 

 taken. They are " game " first, last and all 

 the time. 



The flesh of the Mongolian pheasant is al- 

 most as white as that of the domestic 

 chicken, and has a pronounced " gamey " 

 flavor, much appreciated by all lovers of 

 wild meat. G. M. Miller. 



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