214



P. Lambert—Pheasants in Relation to Aviculture



possesses, and like most other species, it is extremely hardy and breeds

well in confinement. Take the Lady Amherst cock, not so gaudy as

the Golden, but what glorious beauty, can any bird in the world

compare with this most perfectly conceived bird ? The Chinquis

Peacock Pheasant, a most exquisite little creature, one has only to see

him displaying to his mate and we realize how his ocelli literally shine

and twinkle, putting to shame the most wonderful jewel, indeed

a jewel is hard and dead as compared with this gem of nature. Look

at the Indian Monal, clumsy old fellow he may be, but if we except a

humming bird, what bird in the world has such iridescent beauty ?

Gaze on the cock when he is standing in the full blaze of the sun, catch

the fiery copper bronze of his neck feathers, and if one is not entranced,,

then I must give it up.


Take all the Fireback group of Pheasants, there are many distinct

species, and yet each has a distinctive beauty, perhaps the most

beautiful of all is the Bornean of that ilk, stately, charming, and so

proud, aware of its beauty and showing it always to the best advantage.

That most lovely Tragopan Pheasant, here again we have at least

five species, but gaze on the beauty of the Satyr cock. What a marvellous,

blend of colour ; has anyone seen such an exquisite carmine, imagine

him in his mating attire, and watch his wonderful bib slowly distend

until it covers nearly the whole of his breast, then we see a gorgeous

purple with vivid stripes of scarlet. The cock would seem a fearsome

creature when displaying, but he is the most gentle and tame of all

Pheasants, and also the most lovable.


A few more, and I must finish, but I must mention the Swinhoe

cock, majestic and so emphatically masterful, its plumage is a perfect

example of the wonderful designs of beauty in nature. Perhaps the

most striking feature of a lovely ensemble is the strange white mantle

that would appear to accentuate the rest of its metallic plumage. Just

one more, who could pass a Reeves cock without an exclamation of

delight; buff, amber, yellow, white, and brown, this cock is most

peculiarly marked, and to make him still more peculiar, just gaze on

his five-foot tail. No, I must just mention one more Pheasant, for the

Edwards Pheasant makes a greater appeal to many than the more gaily

garbed specimens. His plumage calls to mind that material which is y



