(30 times greater); and titanium in livers, muscles, and 
spleens (10 times greater). In most of the body parts 
that were comparable, barium and strontium were 
2-20 times greater, and lead was 30-70 percent less 
in pheasants than in humans. It is interesting that of 
the “nonessential” elements showing differences be- 
tween pheasants and humans, all except lead were 
more abundant in the birds. As pheasants ingest 
appreciable amounts of soil (Harper & Labisky 1964: 
726), as well as grit, an accumulation of “nonessen- 
tial” elements in these birds might be expected. 
Spector (1956:70-77) has summarized analytical 
work performed on many species of vertebrates. 
Although mammals were the most common animals on 
which analyses were conducted, birds, reptiles, amphibi- 
ans, and fish were also listed. Concentrations of nine 
elements (the five major elements, plus copper, iron, 
manganese, and zinc) in six internal organs (brains, 
hearts, kidneys, livers, lungs, and spleens), muscle, 
and bone could be used for generalized comparisons 
between pheasants and other vertebrates. (Spector 
(1956:70) points out that the values he presents are 
rough approximations which are not subject to con- 
clusive interpretation.) For these elements and these 
tissues, concentrations in pheasants agreed exceedingly 
well with those listed for other backboned animals. 
General exceptions were calcium in hearts (30-80 
percent less abundant in pheasants), potassium and 
sodium in kidneys (35-55 and 50-70 percent less, 
respectively), and phosphorus and zinc in livers (30-55 
and 10-90 percent less, respectively). 
The median concentrations of elements in pheasant 
blood exhibited several striking differences from mean 
concentrations in mammalian blood reported by Bowen 
(1966:81-82). Notable examples were phosphorus (3 
times greater in pheasants); cadmium, cobalt, and 
manganese (10-50 times greater); and nickel, silver, 
vanadium, and zinc (94-99 percent less). 
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All tables are presented on the following pages. 
