20 P. Schmidt—A Pheasant which should have a Great Future


able to establish that this is impossible, because, as in the case of

the not entirely unmixed Amherst, or the continued breeding of

other crossed specimens, some can be found among the descendants

which resemble the original ancestors. In the same way set-backs

should occur in the Dark Golden Pheasants if this theory were true,

though this has never happened. The Dark Golden Pheasant

always remains Thaumalea, both in colour and in form. So it is

absolutely true that it is the result of a mutation, which, however,

is unknown in the wild state. Unfortunately I do not know who

first bred this colour-variation.


It is to be noted that one sometimes finds somewhat lighter

specimens among the Dark Golden Pheasants as well, but they are

still easily distinguished from the ordinary colour shades or from

the mongrels of the ordinary and dark birds. At the further

breeding it is recommended to cross a light hen with a darker cock

and vice versa, else you may discover among the descendent cocks

some specimens with yellowish shade feathers on the belly and side,

and that would certainly be at the expense of beauty. I possess at

present a similar cock, which, being matched with a lighter hen,

presented descendants of a perfect colouring.


The Dark Golden Pheasant belongs to the prettiest of fancy

pheasants, and even those who know the ordinary type are struck

by the first sight of the dark-throated variety. In any case it is

evident that there is an increasing interest in these pheasants on

the part of bird lovers, which is no Avonder, considering that even

its common relation, owing to the cock’s call-plays during almost

the whole year, its modesty in feeding, and satisfaction with even

a small place, will always be welcome in the aviaries of bird lovers,

especially in those of the less wealthy bird keepers; and it is only

natural that a bird, prettier than its relation and possessing all its

good qualities, should secure for itself a lasting place with almost

every bird lover.


The chicks of the Dark Golden Pheasant can be reared with the

same easiness as those of its ordinary relation. If properly fed the

fancy plumage will be equally pretty under any climate and there

is no fear that the colours will lose their intensity. Our bird will



