File:American pheasant breeding and shooting (1916) (18160058065).jpg

Title: American pheasant breeding and shooting
Identifier: americanpheasant00quar (find matches)
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Quarles, E. A, (Emmet Augustus- b. 1876-
Subjects: Pheasants
Publisher: Wilmington, Del. , Hercules Powder Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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=^^ 69 Mr. Rogers found in handling the Reeves that they did not hiy till they were two years old and that the hen could be counted on for only 8 to 13 eggs a season. He characterizes the species as being shy and of a bad disposition. So far as I can learn, the activities described by Mr. Finley consti- tute the most ambitious efforts made in any state so far to introduce any species of pheasant other than the ringneck and Chinese. (In England the Reeves has been well established for a number of years.) This bird is not found in the wild state in the eastern part of this country, so far as I am aware. The Reeves has the longest tail of any of the true pheasants, exceed- ing six feet in some individuals and is easily distinguished by that feature. Its home is in northern China. The bird is excellent for the table, of large size and of surpassing swiftness in flight. As a sporting bird, however, it seems to do better in wild, broken, hill country, where its flight must necessarily be high and varied. In low lying covers it is said to be hard to get up and to fly low when it does arise. This species is said to be an even greater wanderer than the ringneck, and that, of course, counts against it as a bird for stocking coverts. Crosses of Reeves and ringnecks are more or less common, but it is supposed that the hybrid is infertile. MONGOLIAN.—To this day, the ringneck is not infrequently re- ferred to in this country as the " Mongolian pheasant," a curious error which apparently arose with the introduction of the former bird to this country. As we have already learned, the ringneck, the pheasant most commonly found in this country and England, is a cross between the Chinese pheas- ant (Phasianus torquafus) and the common pheasant (Phasianus colchi- ciis), whereas the Mon- golian is an entirely dif- ferent bird as its scientific designation, Phasianus mongolicus shows. The home of the Mongolian is in Northern China. It is, therefore, inured to low temper- atures, but is said not to do so well in warm cli- mates. It is larger than the ringneck and a writer Silver pheasant cock. New Jersey State Game Farm. in the London Field of
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