106 Y. Malisoux—The O.P.S. Must Save Many Rare Pheasants


to amateurs in general. It is only the zoos and important ornithologists

which are really helped by importation. The less known amateur is

often afraid to buy direct from the importers. He knows that his

personal influence is nil, and rightly or wrongly, he thinks that he is

offered only those Pheasants that are left over. The zoos and im¬

portant ornithologists buy under good conditions because the importers

fear to lose their clients. Other reasons are that amateurs, large and

small, have not often sufficient or good enough space at their disposal

and perhaps their aviaries are indifferent. Space is limited, as are

finances. They do not care to have imported birds, which might

introduce contagious diseases, unless they can keep them in quarantine

under observation, which means cages of aviaries apart and some

distance away.


Reproduction


Although the superiority of the zoos and important collectors,

collectors who wish to buy rare Pheasants but will not sell, is over¬

whelming, the modest amateur’s possibilities are improving in regard

to reproduction, the chief factor being not the birds themselves but

the care and attention which is given them. Here it is necessary to

distinguish the ordinary zoos from large private collectors. The zoos

are not sufficiently equipped for reproduction because of insufficient

aviaries, many visitors, etc., and a great rarity is often spoilt when

thus confined.


The large collector ornithologist, that is to say the collector who

is not just contented to put his birds in a cage or aviary to be fed

anyhow by his keeper in an uninterested way, this collector appears

to be best situated for the reproduction of imported Pheasants, with

ample ground at his disposal and also numbers of aviaries turfed and

liberally planted with shrubs, bushes, and fir trees, etc.


The amateur of less importance can evidently obtain reproduction

from imported birds, but generally his chances are far more remote.

It is not for him to try rarities but for the ornithological collector,

who has every chance of success. The small amateur can also buy

rare imported birds if he gets the chance. If he wants to breed them



