270 J. Delacour—Pheasant Notes : Status at Liberty and in Captivity


Of the three Monals (Lophophorus), one, the Himalayan, is commonly

imported and bred, while the two rarer species—Sclater’s Monal from

Upper Burma and Yunnan, and L’Huys’s from Western China, scarce

in the wild state and difficult to reach—have never been brought

over, except in a very few cases. It is hoped that the Chinese Monal,

the finest and rarest of the genus, may soon be imported into California.

It is said to have been much persecuted and shot, and to be threatened

with extinction.


The Brown Eared-Pheasant (Crossoptilon manchuricum ) is common

in captivity in Europe. But it has become scarce in N.E. China, where

forests have been terribly reduced in the last thirty years. It is

probable that it will soon become extinct at liberty. Fortunately,

the captive stock is amply sufficient to preserve its existence. It

breeds freely, although no fresh blood has been imported for a very

long time and is never likely to be now.


The Blue Eared-Pheasant ( C . auritum), from N.W. China, had never

been sent alive to Europe till a few years ago. But it had long been

bred in domesticity in its native country, on account of the value of

its tail-feathers. It is now as well established with us as the brown

species.


The White Eared-Pheasant ( C . crossoptilon) has very seldom been

seen in captivity. One pair is now in California and more are soon

expected to arrive. It is to be hoped that this lovely bird will soon

be established in aviaries as well as the other two. Its blue repre¬

sentative [C. c. harmani) from Tibet has once been brought over

by Colonel Bailey, but never bred. It would also be a very interesting

acquisition. It may be said incidentally that it is not closely related

to C. auritum , in spite of their common blue-grey dress.


The Cheer (Catreus wallichi), from the Himalayas, is a curious if

not very pretty Pheasant. It has long been scarce in captivity, but,

during these last few years, it has been imported and bred in some

numbers in France and in Italy.


The Koklass ( Pucrasia ), although still numerous in some parts of

their mountainous haunts in the Himalayas and in China, have never

been common in captivity, nor properly established in Europe, although

many have been bred on several occasions. The Himalayan species



