164 THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



ing everything into consideration a good trapper should 

 be able to make more than a good living following his 

 occupation. 



"SPARE THE HEN PHEASANT" 



During the years 1911 and 1912 the Legislature 

 closed the season for killing Chinese Pheasants. The 

 numbers had been growing smaller and it was thought 

 best to give these birds a chance to recuperate. In 1913 

 and 1914 the season was again opened, but for the shoot- 

 ing of males only ; the hen pheasants were protected by 

 law. This was a good law. Sparing the hen pheasant 

 is the best method of insuring birds for the following 

 year's crop. There are very important reasons why the 

 hen pheasants should not be killed. 



In the first place the Chinese Pheasants are polyga- 

 mous in nature. They are entirely polygamous when 

 kept in captivity and they are to a large extent polyga- 

 mous in the wild state. If there are as many cocks as 

 hens in the wild state, the birds will pair off, yet if there 

 are more hens than cocks the hens will be cared for much 

 the same as they are in the tame state where a cock is 

 kept in a pen with from four to six females. 



The most vital reason why the hen should not be 

 killed is that she is a smaller bird than the cock and less 

 able to protect herself in the wild state. At the State 

 Game Farm, for instance, where cocks and hens are kept 

 in an open field, they are sometimes attacked by hawks 

 and owls. In over thirty birds that were caught in this 

 field by hawks and owls, every single one was a hen. 

 Although the cock stands out in the open, he is strong 

 and big and able to protect himself, while the hen is not. 



