G. H. Edwards—Pheasants



193



the sound of whose challenge mingles with the boom of the Pacific

breakers, pounding on the Japanese coast, fifty-five hundred miles

to the Eastward. . .


To the South, the islands and peninsulas that remain washed by

the seas that cover the lost continent of Australasia are the homes of

more Pheasants. Of these, the Argus Pheasants are a striking example

of the strange modelling hands of Environment; the long, soft feathers,

which impart such a grotesque appearance are doubtless a means of

deceiving its enemies. How many animals, I wonder, have sunk claw

or tooth into feather, instead of flesh, while the Argus made good its

escape, minus a deal of plumage, but otherwise unharmed. Although

the genus display with their extraordinary wings during courtship,

it is likely that the fundamental object of their exceptionally long

feathers is to foil their hunters.


To the South, too, we find Eirebacks, Peacock Pheasants—-in

Sumatra and Borneo.


The Future of Pheasants


Eminent authorities have told us that some species may become

extinct. In any case, some are certainly very rare, and it must there¬

fore be a source of gratification to every aviculturist to learn of the

efforts of the Ornamental Pheasant Society to import several rare

species under expert persons.


I like to hear the crack of the guns in this country when the autumn

surrenders a proportion of its fine grown birds, for the crack of those guns

spells a deep assurance of the continuation of our Phasianus. Far

different must sound the reports of the guns of the hunters of the rare

Pheasants in other lands.


It may be that some day there will be a great awakening to the

tragedy of the grand species that are falling under the advance of civiliza¬

tion and industry in their native homes, and efforts will be made to

preserve them.


There are hundreds of grand parks and private grounds in the land

which would be the richer by the introduction of Ornamental Pheasants,

and there is no reason at all why even the rarest of species should not

be as familiar in England as that already adopted member of the



