180 P. W. Teague—Experiences in Removal and Feeding Methods


long spells of frost and as low a temperature as 12°. In captivity

they moult in the summer, and the cocks have their full tail by the

end of the year. An old male at Cleres has one of 5 ft. 4 in., which has

never been observed in wild caught specimens. It is truly a marvellous

bird. He and his mate came to Cleres in 1926, after having been kept

two years in an aviary at Hue, where they had bred. To this day, they

are still in perfect health and they have bred every year. They

must be very nearly 15 years old and the species seems to live a

long time. It is of course only natural, as the cocks take their full

tail at four years only, perhaps even five ; I only have bred so far from

birds five years old.


The main difficulty with Rheinarts is to bring them over in good

health. They must be very carefully preserved from roup, as they

are very apt to catch it and always die quickly if they do. It is essential

to use disinfectants and to isolate them carefully. Also, good soft

food, with plenty of meat, banana, etc., is necessary. After a few

weeks in Europe, they can be let out, and then prove perfectly strong

and hardy, more so than many other species of Pheasants.



EXPERIENCES IN REMOVAL AND FEEDING


METHODS


By P. W. Teague


I have been asked by many prominent aviculturists to write a few

details on a remarkable feat of moving birds and aviaries during their

breeding activities. I carried out what I should unhesitatingly have

said was almost an impossibility, yet this was successfully accomplished,

by a firm of removers, from Kilpeck to Broadway, a distance of about

57 miles. The birds, aviaries, and cages were most carefully

handled and packed on the large vans at Kilpeck about 2 p.m., arriving

at their destination nearly 10 p.m. that night. Fortunately the breeding

aviaries were on the small side, the largest measuring 6 by 6 by 4 feet,

so that the ones containing nests of eggs and young were packed on

the vans bodily, just as they were. Incredible though it may appear,

I did not lose an egg, or a youngster. At the time of my moving,



