THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 201 



REEVES PHEASANTS IN LANE COUNTY 



During the past few years between two and three hundred Reeves 

 pheasants have been liberated in Lane County, especially in the terri- 

 tory around Eugene. These birds have been raised at the State Game 

 Farm and a special effort has been made to stock the refuges about 

 this section of the county because it is considered an ideal locality for 

 the birds. The Reeves pheasant is not as hardy as the Chinese or 

 Ring-neck pheasant, but it is a larger and more beautiful bird, and it 

 will be a splendid addition to our Oregon birds if the sportsmen will 

 give it careful protection until it can get a good start. 



During the summer of 1914 seventy-four Reeves pheasants were 

 liberated in. Lane County, twenty-four of these set loose on game 

 refuges near Cottage Grove. Mr. E. M. Sharp, of Cottage Grove, 

 reports that these birds are doing well in his locality. Under date of 

 September 4th, 1915, he writes as follows: 



"I have had reports from a number of different farmers in this 

 section in regard to the Reeves pheasants. Mr. McReynolds, whose 

 ranch joins that of Mr. J. H. Hawley, the place where we liberated the 

 Reeves pheasants last year, reports a flock on his place. Mr. McDowell, 

 also joining Mr. Hawley, reports seeing a few. Mr. Dugan, a mile west, 

 says a flock of twelve or fourteen young ones are on his place. Mr. 

 Foster, living four miles north of Mr. Hawley's place, says there are 

 ten or fifteen young Reeves pheasants on his place. 



Mr. Sharp also reports that the Hungarian partridges liberated 

 in that locality are doing very well. The farmers are all interested in 

 protecting these birds. 



Two dozen Reeves pheasants were liberated on the Luckey game 

 refuge a few miles north of Eugene. Three large Reeves cocks stayed 

 about Mr. Luckey's house all last winter. They became quite tame. 

 On the first day of last March I visited this refuge with Mr. L. E. Bean 

 and saw these birds, as well as a flock of Silver pheasants that had 

 been liberated in this section. The Reeves pheasants were in beauti- 

 ful plumage, especially with its long tail feathers. During the summer 

 a flock of Reeves pheasants hatched in the wild state were seen here 

 on the Luckey reserve. Several broods of young Reeves pheasants 

 were sent from the State Game Farm and placed on the Luckey farm 

 early last spring. 



In August two dozen Reeves pheasants were sent to Eugene and 

 liberated on the College Crest Game Refuge. On September 7th Mr. 

 E. C. Whitton, of Eugene, wrote Mr. 'Gene Simpson, superintendent of 

 the State Game Farm, to the effect that all the birds were doing well, 

 with the exception of one hen that was found dead in the county road 

 about a quarter of a mile south. One leg was broken, and a slight 

 bruise on each hip. It was thought that the bird came in contact with 

 a telephone wire or with a woven wire fence. 



Deputy Game Warden E. C. Hills, of Eugene, reports seeing a 

 flock of young Reeves on Mr. Warner's place, about two miles above 

 Oak Ridge. These are likely some of the birds that were liberated 

 near Eugene in the past two or three years. 



If the Reeves pheasants are to get a start in Lane County, it is 



very essential that the sportsmen in that locality take great pains 

 during the shooting season in October that they do not kill Reeves 

 pheasants for Chinese pheasants. While the male birds are very 

 different and cannot be mistaken, yet the females are somewhat alike 



