4



G. H. Edwards—Yorkshire Aviaries



make mention of one other Pheasant—a Satyr Tragopan, T. satyra —■

which came up to the Captain in a most affectionate way, and he gave

the bird some green which it took from his fingers ; really, it was a

picture. I was informed that this bird had been in Scott-Hopkins’s

possession for thirteen years, and I can well believe that it must be

one of the most treasured of his feathered possessions. Tragopans,

when properly cared for, are by nature tame and confiding, and it is

a wonder that they are not more sought after by aviculturists.

Indeed, it is a wonder to me why all aviculturists are not all Pheasant

keepers, for Pheasants are surely the richest gems of aviculture. It is

a large family, embracing a wide and varied manner of forms and

coloration, some of which cannot fail to please. The amazing, brilliant

hued Golden ; the indescribable Amherst, whose walk and poise is the

very definition of grace. The lustre-coated, stocky Impeyans, the wee,

soft feathered Peacock Pheasants. The affectionate, inquisitive Crossop-

tilons (an ugly name to bestow upon such domesticated looking,

handsome birds). The masterful Kaleeges—Nepals, Horsfield’s, White-

crested, and others—the Firebacks, the Koklass Pheasants cf the

forests. The syrmaticus genus, which embraces the Copper Pheasants,

the Peeves’, whose tail, practically 5 feet of barred, flowing beauty,

is proportionately as long as the Whydah’s caudal plumes ; the mountain

loving Mikado of Formosa, and the resplendent, lovely Elliot’s Pheasant,

and many others. Some are cheap, some are expensive ; all are

beautiful to a degree. Some are extraordinarily free breeders, and

a few offer scope for those who like the joy of trying to succeed where

others have failed. Pheasant keeping has something to offer everyone—

but how I digress !


Captain Scott-Hopkins showed me, in his house, two mounted

birds. One was a Satyr cock which had been an extraordinarily tame

and lovable creature, and which the Captain had had mounted purely

out of sentiment. The taxidermist had made a good job of it. The

other mounted specimen was a very rare one, and the sole known

member of the genus—the White-Tailed Wattled Pheasant, Lohio-

phasis bulweri, sometimes referred to as Bulwer’s Pheasant. Hitherto,

I had only seen paintings of this Pheasant, without being much

impressed, but an actual specimen, even though but a mounted one,



