Captain C. Scott-Hopkins—My Pheasant Collection 53


difficult to find and anyone who is fortunate enough to be in possession

of pure birds should do his best to keep them pure. I think for

beauty and gracefulness the Amherst takes top place. My

favourite is the Satyr Tragopan. His colouring is superb and he

becomes so tame in a very short time. I think the Reeves and the

Elliot are the most timid of all Pheasants, although my Elliots are

exceptionally tame. Do not run away with the idea that Fancy

Pheasants are on the whole delicate. I think, perhaps, it is this

fear that prevents many people from keeping them. They are

very hardy. The only two varieties which may require a little

extra care during the winter months are the Argus and the Palawan

Peacock Pheasant. I have had two pairs of the latter (imported)

and I have never been able to keep them alive for long. They are

truly delightful little birds, being the most beautiful and the rarest

of the Peacock Pheasants. They are only found on the island of

Palawan in the Philippines.


All my Pheasants roost out in the open throughout the winter.

The house, with which each of my aviaries is provided, is used

far more during the summer, as Pheasants do not appreciate the

midday sun and prefer to be in the shade. My aviaries are

12 yards long by 4 yards wide and about 6 feet high. I have ever¬

green trees in every aviary to provide shelter and a pretty appear¬

ance. Each aviary has a scratching shed. Some are gravel

mixed with sand and some are grass. I am not going to say which

are preferable, because both have their good points. It is much

easier to keep gravel aviaries clean and sweet. I rake mine every

week and once a year I put fresh gravel down. Grass aviaries

are more natural and look very nice as long as the grass lasts. It

will not last long with Monauls. I should always advise match¬

boarding allround the sides of aviaries as Pheasants are very pugnacious

birds, especially during the breeding season. It will increase fertility and

save many a beautiful tail from being broken. Always have plenty

of shelters in your aviaries for the hens to take refuge in. Woe betide

any Amherst hen who cannot escape from the male bird. This is a

very important point to remember.


Pheasants which show no hostility and are very docile in the winter



