94



Correspondence



the following experience. I was missing chicks, and in order to discover the

miscreant I hid behind a bush. Soon after a hen Sparrow Hawk paid her

visit, and I went for my gun (yes, I should have had it before !) about two

hours afterwards she came again, but from a different angle, and she carried

away another chick before I could shoot. That Hawk paid three more visits

that day, but the third was her last, as I then got in my shot. I was told

that if one shot the hen the male bird would let the young starve rather

than seek food, and this statement appeared to be correct. Dr. Amsler’s

advice about “ cottoning ” the rearing ground is sound, but it would take

me a month to do this.


I can see no reason for anyone assuming a supercilious smile on reading

his notes on rearing, such thoroughness is seldom encountered, and I can

only hope that he will experience better luck this spring. I hope he will

change his opinion about rearing Peacock Pheasant chicks, and if a Sparrow

Hawk does pay him a visit, then I sincerely hope he will not rest content until

the evening, before taking precautions.


We Pheasant rearers have our troubles, but this surely adds to the zest

of our hobby ? If a cricketer was always assured of making a century, would

not the game soon bore that man ? I was always rather efficient at making

a “ duck ”, but I loved the game. Let us look on Pheasant rearing with a

similar outlook, and when good luck comes, then surely we shall reach the

sublime heights of our endeavours.


P. J. Lambert.



A CORRECTION


Madam,— In Mr. Alex. Hampe’s letter of 5th November, on page 363

of the December issue, Avicultural Magazine, Mr. Hampe notes the

successful breeding of the Sumatran Bronze-tailed Peacock Pheasant in the

Berlin Zoo, and remarks : “So far only Mr. Delacour had success with this

species.”


Mr. Hampe is in error regarding this last statement, as both Mr. J. W.

Steinbeck of Concord, California, and Mr. Leland Smith of Fair Oaks,

California, had much success in breeding the Bronze-tailed Sumatrans during

the seasons of 1936 and 1937.


The offspring of Mr. Smith’s and Mr. Steinbeck’s birds have been rather

well distributed among phasianists in this country, and since this variety

is said to be a very ready breeder, we rather expect that another season will

see quite a few breeders successful in breeding the Sumatrans.


Thus far the more attractive Malayan Bronze-tails have not been brought

to America, but if one can believe a statement from a collector now in the

field, in a letter I have recently received, they may come in this coming spring.


Both Mr. Steinbeck and Mr. Smith are members of our Ornamental

Pheasant Society.


C. L. Sibley,


Secretary of O.P.S. of America.



