P. Lambert—Pheasants in Relation to Aviculture



213



Pheasants are not hardy, for no birds taken as a whole, are hardier.

So what is the reason for the apparent neglect of these exquisite creations,

and this amongst a people who join an Avicultural Society ? I cannot

provide a satisfactory answer, and yet the subject intrigues me, for

it is so utterly incomprehensible. Here we have a group of birds,

many species of which are on the point of extinction, and we hear

such a great authority as M. Delacour repeatedly telling us that this

is no fairy tale, but a fact, and yet our members do not rally to this

most intriguing branch of aviculture. It is true that we have received

great encouragement during the past twelve months, and many well-

known members of the Society have taken up Pheasants, but still not

as many as we hoped for. Many of our members cannot make the

excuse that the more expensive species are beyond their pockets, and

still knowing as they do that future generations of Pheasant lovers

must depend almost entirely upon our efforts to breed these species,

they still cannot bring themselves to take up one of the most

delightful and satisfying hobbies in the world.


Perhaps members will be surprised to know that I am aware of at

least five working men who keep such rare Pheasants as the Elliot,

Edwards, and Peacock Pheasant, quite likely their accumulated

savings for a whole year have been spent on one such pair, they take a

wonderful pride in these birds, and yet have not bought them purely

from a mercenary point of view. I know of one man whose weekly

earnings are but a paltry 505., and yet this good man is saving his

shillings until he has enough in hand to buy a pair of Edwards. I think

it is wonderful, and we have no idea of the sacrifices that enthusiast

makes, it puts some of us to shame.


I think that those aviculturists who keep rare Parrakeets and other

rare and exotic small birds are doing a great service to aviculture, and

I should be the last to disparage their efforts, but as my interests are

almost entirely devoted to Pheasants, I never tire of urging others

to join the O.P.S., and commence the culture of Ornamental

Pheasants. It is possible to keep in confinement every species of

Pheasant, and moreover to induce them to propagate and surely this

in itself should act as a great incentive. Now for one moment let us

look at their great beauty. What a blaze of colour the Golden cock



