10



P. J. Lambert—The Culture of Ornamental Pheasants



such a position, I am not, and I appreciate that, in writing this year’s

workings, it savours more of failures than successes, but I trust that

my efforts will have the result of persuading some other ordinary

members of the Society to give some of their general everyday

experiences of the birds with which we are nearly all familiar.



THE CULTURE OF ORNAMENTAL

PHEASANTS


By P. J. Lambert


Interest in ornamental Pheasants is steadily on the increase. It

is true to say that whereas ten years ago the numbers of fanciers

could be counted in their tens, now they are to be numbered in their

hundreds. The cause of this happy increase is not difficult to discover.

There can be no doubt that until comparatively recent years very few

people had the opportunity of seeing ornamental Pheasants, nowadays

there are far more opportunities of doing so. Again many would-be

fanciers were deterred from keeping them, thinking that large aviaries

were necessary if good breeding results were required. I will deal

with this matter later. Then it was found that Pheasants were most

friendly creatures and lived happily with small birds and in no way

interfered with the smaller occupants of the aviary. There are indeed

many advantages to be gained by running Pheasants with small birds,

they will consume all the seed wasted by birds that it will be readily

admitted are not very provident and perhaps more important still

they fill up a blank space in the aviary, viz. the floor. It is probably

true to say that half of the Pheasant fanciers in Great Britain to-day

keep their Pheasants with smaller birds, such people inform their

friends that the breeding results of both groups of birds are in no way

interfered with and so we find the fancy enjoying still greater popularity.

Perhaps one feature more than any other has caused many aviculturists

to introduce Pheasants into their aviaries. Many thought that

Pheasants were difficult to rear: that this is a fallacy has been definitely

proved. Year by year one hears of novices raising splendid broods



