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Captain C. Scott-Hopkins—My Pheasant Collection



reading about them and wondering if what is said about these wonderful

birds from time to time is really true. Yes, every word that is put

in print describing their beauty and attractiveness is true. But it is

quite impossible to describe them on paper. One must see to believe,

and then I am sure that many will not be able to resist the fascina¬

tion and longing to own a pair.


I feel that I can talk with a little real experience behind me. I have

kept these birds for many years and I think I am safe in saying that

I have the finest private collection in Great Britain. I have kept in

my aviaries nearly every known variety of Pheasant. Unfortunately

there are some of the very rare varieties which it is exceedingly difficult to

replace when they die, partly because they are rarely exported and

the price is too high. There are over thirty species that one could keep

if one includes the commoner varieties, such as the Ring-necked, Black¬

necked, Melanistic Mutant, etc. I have kept all these, but I cannot

spare the aviaries now. My present collection includes the following :

Silver, Golden, Amherst, Reeves, Bels, Pure White, Edwards, Soem¬

mering, Elliot, Swinhoe, Monaul, Chinquis Peacock Pheasant, Germain,

Peacock Pheasant, Mikado, Satyr Tragopan, Temmink Tragopan,

Blyth Tragopan, Borneo Eireback, Siamese Eireback, Vieillot Fireback,

Crestless Eireback, Rheinart Argus, Malay Argus, etc.


I have had Bulwer’s Pheasant and the Palawan Peacock Pheasant,

both very rare birds, and the Imperial, also very rare. The White-

crested and Black-crested Kaleege Pheasants are rather dull

coloured birds, so I do not keep them now. The Cheer Pheasant,

which I have seen but never possessed, is also rather dull in plumage

but a nice tractable bird. The Koklass, which I have also seen but never

kept, is an attractive bird and very pretty, but I am told they are

not too easy to keep alive in this country. These two varieties are

not easy to procure as they are seldom exported. I hope, however, to

be able to find them soon.


Many of these Pheasants are beyond the purse of most fanciers, but

there are very many beautiful Pheasants that can be purchased at

a low price. Goldens, Silvers, Amhersts, Bels, Reeves, and Swinhoes

are easily obtainable at a price well within the means of most people

who are desirous of starting this hobby. Pure Lady Amhersts are very



