win L CORNELL 7” i AB of ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY at Sapsucker Woods Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924090299839 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY (thuc* 2 st 25g LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NEW YORK ‘SINVSVGHd SMOHNIMS Ze = ae FANCY FH AND EASAN THEI. BLES. BY PRANS FUN, §.Z-5. AUTHOR OF “FANCY WATERFOWL,” ETC ILLUSTRATED. “THE FEATHERED WORLD,” 9, ARUNDEL STREET, STRAND, LONDON. W.C. Ornith Yl 696 fee Onw. PS] PREPACE, Wee. AVING seen much of the Pheasant family in captivity, I have ventured to write the present work, which first appeared as a series of articles in The Feathered World, in order to point out to fanciers how easily kept Z Sees and how numerous are these birds. " Me A great deal is talked about the beauty of Birds of Paradise and Humming- birds, but these are not to be compared to Pheasants, even if they were readily obtainable. It seems to me, therefore, that it is high time that these latter became better known to the public at large, though some have long been appreciated by a few. As Partridges are rarely kept, and Quails have to be relegated to the company’ of small birds, I have not dealt with them; but I have discussed all the best known Pheasants, together with the ancestors of our domestic poultry and their relatives. FRANK FINN, London, 1901. GUINEA FOWLS. BREEDING ... a “is ie 9 GUINEA FowLs, -COMMON ae ‘ PUCHERAN’S On CRESTED <5 VULTURINE ... HANDLING AND TRANSPORT INTRODUCTION JUNGLE FowL * CEYLON... 5 GREEN OR JAVAN 3 GREY OR SONNERAT’S 54 RED KALEEGES ... MONAULS ; ‘i 5 BRONZE-BACKED 3 CoMMON 54 L’Hvuys’ 3 SCLATER’S... ... PEAFOWL ee CoMMON 3 GREEN OR JAVAN 5 JAPAN OR BLACK-WINGED .. PHEASANTS oy AMHERST “a ARGUS i CHEER CHINESE OR RING-NECKED CONTENTS. PHEASANTS, COMMON... oe ates dy Coprrr OR SOEMMERRING’S ; EARED, MANCHURIAN : ” TIBETAN ... . ELLIOT’sS i GOLDEN a By ” GREEN OR VERSICOLOR ... i GrrEY PEACOCK rr IMPEYAN ‘ KOOKLASS ise +3 LINEFATED KALERGE ‘ MONGOLIAN .. 43 REEVES'S fe ; SILVER KALEEGE ... 3 SWINHOE’S KALREGE 5 WHITE-WINGED RuNs, COVERED AND UNCOVERED TRAGOPANS AND MONAULS INDIAN CRIMSON... “5 CHINESE ,, wt a BLACK OR WESTERN $i GREY-RREASTED OR BLYTH’S “ Burr or Cazor’s TREATMENT TURKEY, HONDURAS ; WILD ... ILLUSTRATIONS. CYLON JUNGLE FOWL... GUINEA FowLs PHEASANTS, AMHERST ... sis ARGUS 5h ComMMoN 5 ELLIOT’sS ” GOLDEN PHEASANTS,. IMPEYAN bis ‘ ‘MANCHURIAN EARED = MonauL, CoMMON “i REEVES’s a RING-NECKED 9 SILVER _ sis SWINHOE’S... ne a TRAGOPAN, INDIAN _ .., PAGE PA 19, Sfrontispi re 20 GE li 22 27 20 13 22 ece 16 ELLIOT’S PHEASANTS. FANCY PHEASANTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION CONSIDERING that those very familiar birds, the Common Fowl, Guinea-fowl, and Turkey, belong to the Pheasant family, it is somewhat astonishing that so few other species are, as gardeners would say, in culti- vation. True, we have the Peacock, the special fancy of great King Solomon, and the gold and silver Pheasants are not unfamiliar. But, taking them as a group, the Pheasants, among English people at least, cannot be said to have attained that papalanily which is enjoyed by some other families of birds, such as Parrots and Ducks, or even Doves, for that matter. This is a great pity, for the Pheasant family not only comprises the most gorgeous of all known birds, but most of themarevery hued and will breed in captivity,and they are not more difficult to manage than ordinary poultry, if the fact that they are still wild birds be taken into account. At the same time some of them are undoubt- edly more susceptible of domestication than others, and even as much so as the common fowl, which, as everybody knows, is more domesticated by a great deal than the Guinea-fowl, which has not been for long, comparatively speaking, under the dominion of man. There is no reason whatever why the shorter-tailed species of Pheasants, which also happen to be the steadiest, should not be taken up as show birds and trained to the pen. The exhibition of such would certainly draw the general public to a show more than any breed of fowls could nowadays; and though, as a rule, Pheasants would prove uninteresting to the breeder who likes striving to fix new points and altering a breed, this would not always be the case. For although the Pheasant family commonly breed as true as most wild or recently- tamed birds, yet they are Penney liable to “sports” of a very well-marked kind, as I shall have occasion to oint out later on; and, moreover, they hybridise very reely, the hybrids being sometimes fertile, and occasion- ally possessing great beauty. It is more remunerative, however, at present, to breed pure-bred birds, which fetch very good prices, even the common golden and silver species being more expensive than many birds which have been much less bred in captivity. Pheasants, however, are not so expensive as fancy poultry, and the fact that they truly propagate their kind, as a rule, renders their breeding a matter of more certain profit, while if sports are obtained, or Pheasant hybridising ever becomes popular, there will be enough speculation for anybody. The birds of this noble family will, however, specially appeal to the fancier who loves beauty for its own sake, and desires a bird that he can keep and breed, and watch even ina small garden. For this purpose the Pheasant family are eminently suited ; though shy with strangers, they are really among the most tamable of birds, as a visit to any zoological garden will testify ; their beauty is, as I remarked above, quite unsurpassed, and it does not change according to season, like that of so many lovely Ducks and Finches, and their diverse ways of showing it off during the breeding season form a detail in their habits of surpassing interest. In all the birds of this family commonly to be met with the sexes can easily be distinguished when adult, which is, I need not say, a great advantage to the beginner; young birds are often hard to tell apart at first, but I should not advise anyone to start literally ab ovo with these birds, but to get a pair or pen of adults, and start breeding on their own account. In this series of articles I propose to treat not only of what are usually known as Pheasants, but of other members of the family which are procurable, such as the Peafowl, Junglefowl, ete. I shall use the scientific names emploved in the British Museum Catalogue of Birds, Vol. XXII., and I shall frequently be indebted to Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier’s standard work on Pheasants for information. Indeed, in the existence of such a book I should not have ventured to write on the subject myself were it not that Mr. Tegetmeier’s book is intended as much or more for sportsmen than for fanciers, while my own present object is simply to encourage the cultiva- tion of these beautiful birds as things of beauty and nothing beside, although I have pointed out above how their cultivation may at least be made to pay its way, owing to the present high value of the birds. Should Pheasant-breeding ever become more general, a profitable article might be found in the gorgeous plumage of the males ; were Pheasants largely reared to supply plumes, much of the persecution they and ater brilliantly-clothed birds undergo in the cause of fashion would cease; and of course there is no more cruelty or waste of life in rearing a pheasant for its plumes thana fowl for its flesh, especially as the former is even better for food. Tame birds can be called into being in any number at our will, as is done with the Pheasants used for sport; but wild ones always exist under difficulties, and any serious extra persecution must in the long run be dangerous to the species. Of course killing tame birds in cold blood for their feathers is repugnant to most people’s feelings; but then they should not wear feathers at all if they object to taking life for that purpose ; not that life need neces- sarily be taken. Birds of bright plumage often cast much of their special adornment almost all at once, and if they were kept under close observation at this time, the dropped ornaments could be collected very little the worse for weur. TREATMENT IN GENERAL. As the habits of the common fowl are typical of those of the Pheasant family in general, so their treatment will not present any special difficulty to people acquainted with poultry, if the wilder and more vicious nature of most of the Pheasants be borne in e 10 Fancy PHEASANTS. mind. A pair of Pheasants or a pet cock bird can be kept in any small covered shed, but in such close quar- ters the hen may often be in danger from the fitful temper of her savage mate, who is usually less chival- rous than Chanticleer, and the young from such birds, even should the hen lay, are less likely to be vigorous than those of birds better housed, and few people nowa- days care to keep birds without some idea of breeding from them. Should anyone be desirous, however, of keeping a few Pheasants merely to look at, several males of the same or different species may he put together in an ordinary fowl-run, where they will thrive and agree well, if no hens are introduced ; but even then a sharp eye should be kept on them when first put together, or when any show signs of a bullying spirit. For Pheasants are oa birds in more senses than one, and where pairs are kept it is quite out of the question to let even different species run together, as the jealous males would fight to the death in such a case. For breeding Pheasants, then, each pair or pen should have a shelter shed and open run to themselves. The latter should be well turfed and planted with bushes ; and the part nearest the front should be gravelled or sanded, as the birds are sure to run to and fro there, and thus ruin the grass at that point. Perches should be pro- vided, natural branches serving and looking best, but the perches out-doors should be all lawar than that within the shed, sothat the birds may be encouraged to roost inside. In the shed also will be placed the food and the dust-bath. Pheasants may have corn of all the ordinary small kinds constantly before them, though too much maize should not be given, or they may be fed morning and evening, like fowls. In the latter case the morning feed should consist of meal or other soft food. Green food, especially lettuce and small fruit, should always be given, especi- ally if the run is getting bare of grass and insects, or, in default of them, some chopped cooked meat or hard- boiled egg be supplied at frequent intervals. COVERED AND UNCOVERED RUNS. When I spoke above of an uncovered run, I meant, of course, one exposed to the weather ; but it need not be open altogether, and, indeed, must not be unless the birds are pinioned or have their wings cut. If pheasants are to be pinioned, the whole of the first or knuckle-joint of the wing, carrying all the flights, must be cut off, and even then a spring and flutter will take them to a good height. Therefore, although the shortness of the flights in birds of this family prevents the result of the opera- tion from being visible while the wings are closed, I do: not advise anyone to pinion Pheasants unless they have a large, safe, and well-enclosed run, whence it would be a pity to exclude them, while itis too big to be netted over. The worst of cutting the wings of Pheasants is that, as the quills come away and are reproduced more or less gradually, the bird may be regaining the pos of flight without your knowledge, and to your subsequent disappointment. For, though Pheasants do not fly far, they cannot be trusted with complete liberty except in extensive grounds or woods, and even there they are liable to stray, fight, or interbreed. So that most people will find it necessary to keep their birds under wire ; and in this case there should always be a string netting stretched under the wire one to pre- vent injury to their heads should they fly up on any biel as od spring with great force and are liable to scalp themselves, by which they will be disfigured or killed outright. The shelter shed should be open to the front on the south side, and should be netted so that the birds can ‘be confined in it if necessary It is easy to make,some arrangement by which the door can be closed on them by means of a string if they are inclined to dart out when an attempt is made to shut them in. x) BREEDING. Pheasants are commonly sold in pairs, as being scarce and dear, but two to,four hens may be put with one Ye Cock, it they themselves fall in with the arrangements ; for, though cock Pheasants are naturally addicted to polygamy, the hens, in some cases, Borne disapprove of it, and refuse to agree together. A less creditable trait in the Pheasant character is the cruel disposition of the males in some species, which will often kill the hen outright for no reason, apparently, but the possession of a naturally savage disposition. Inthe case of such ruffians, it is said to be a good plan to connect the legs of the male bird by a piece of soft string long enough for him to walk easily but not to run, and thus allow the hens a chance of escape, until he has got used to their presence and treats them better. Moreover, a run for breeding should, as above remarked, contain plenty of bushes, which will give shelter to the hen if unduly persecuted. Another vice cock Pheasants are liable to is that of ege-eating, which is best cured by giving the offender hard artificial eggs to amuse hiself with till he is con- vinced that eggs are too uninteresting to meddle with. Pheasant eggs are apt to be left lying about the pen, for the hens will seldom lay, sit, and hatch in the regular way, though this occasionally happens. As a rule, however, all that can be done is to induce the hen to lay regularly in one place by screening it with living bushes, or a lean-to of brushwood faggots. The eggs must then be set under a steady light hen— half-bred Silkies are stated to be the very best for the purpose. The Silky, however, is exceedingly good, and as it is itself a pretty and ornamental bird, is doubly deserving of employment. The young should be fed more often than chickens, anid get more animal food. Ants’ cocoons (commonly called “eoos”) are good, but tend to make the birds dainty ; well-scoured gentles may be given in moderation. Custard, crushed hemp, and millet and canary seed should, however,form the staple diet at first, with minced boiled meat, the various game meals advertised, and larger grain as they grow older and get feathered. Green food should always be given, even if they are being reared on turf, as they ought to be. Pheasants’ eges take several days longer in hatching than those of fowls, a fact which should be borne in mind, or disap- pointment may be unnecessarily felt at the non appear- ance of chicks at the end of the regulation three weeks. But the family is such an extensive one, and comprises birds of such different sizes and styles, from the Turkey to the Quail,that it is not surprising that the incubation period varies a great deal. As Pheasants are liable to the ordinary diseases of poultry, great care should be taken in selecting healthy hens to rear them, lest the young become infected by their foster-mothers. They are particularly liable to the attacks of the gape-worm, for which reason many heasant-rearers do not allow them water when young, ut there is no good ground for such unnatural treat- meng, and general cleanliness is the best preventive. HANDLING AND TRANSPORT. The most likely cause of trouble with full-grown birds, apart from fighting, lies in their nervous disposition and violent movements when alarmed, the strength of these birds, compared with poultry, being something remarkable. You should always “take two hands” to a Pheasant, and never seize it by one limb only; and it is better to use a shallow, strong net, like a landing-net, to secure them. Beware, also, of the sharp spurs of the cocks. Cages or coops for Pheasants should always have a padded roof, or a canvas ceiling below the top, and should not be higher than the birds require to stand upright in: the front should also be made of wooden bars, much too close for them to get their heads out. The floor should also be of wooden bars, with a space beneath to facilitate cleaning. For short journeys the ordinary poultry hamper can be used, these’ being now so well constructed for the saving of birds’ persons and plumage. But it should be Prarow1. TL mentioned that in a long journey, such as a sea voyage, it is quite hopeless to expect the long-tailed species to remain in good trim and be comfor'able; and therefore their exuberance of caudal appendage should be reduced to a more reasonable length in the event of such an ordeal. All the finest members of the present family, with the exception of the Turkeys, inhabit Eastern Asia, India being particularly rich in species. But many are bred so successfully in Europe nowadays that the importa- tion of some species has long ceased, and there are indi. cations that this will soon be the case with others also. My friend Mr. W. Rutledge, of Entally, Caleutta, has long been in the habit of getting many of these splendid birds down from the interior of India, and I shall be indebted to him for a good deal of information about them. The hardiness of the Pheasant constitution is well shown by the way in which they endure the long journey from the hills, carried in small baskets on men’s heads. But, unlike most other birds, they are very intolerant of heat, and few hill species can live through an Indian summer. This will need to be remembered at times by amateurs in England. CHAPTER II. PEAFOWL. The aristocracy of the feathered tribe are undoubtedly the Peacocks; in no other birds do feathers reach such an extraordinary development, and none have been so: long or so universally admired. SoTI shall take them first, and proceed to discuss the other more striking members of the family before addressing inyself to its less exalted representatives. Peafow] are, it is scarcely necessary to say, large birds of a rather‘reachy build, with very small, crested heads and large, powerful feet. Asa matter of fact, both in his Indian home and in Europe the Peacock’s feet are supposed to be a wholesome check upon his otherwise overweening pride; but, after all, they are not worse than the Turkeys, and he must have long, strong legs to carry his chief glory, the train, well off the ground. It is hardly necessary nowadays to explain that the train is not the real tail, but only the greatly-developed upper tail-coverts. The true tail in Peafowl is only mode- rately long, and rounded. The sides of the face are bare of feathers in both sexes, and the crest appears very early in the young. Only two true species of Peafowl are known, but one produces a “sport” of surpassing interest, which may almost rank as a third. THE COMMON PEAFOWL. (Pavo cristatus. ) In the common Peafowi the crest is fan-shaped, each feather being a bare shaft with a small fan-shaped por- tion of web at the tip; the bare part of the face is white, and the neck-feathers are loose-edged and blended into one uniform surface, as in most birds. Itis unnecessary to go into full details as to the plumage of such a well- known bird, but it should be noted that in the male the neck and breast are rich llue, the back coppery-green, with the feathers edged with black and seale-like ; the wings mostly pale buff, coarsely pencilled with black, except the flights, which are cinnamon. The flanks are deep green, and the belly blackish-brown, contrasting with the pale drab thighs. The real tail is brown, and the train, as everyone knows, metallic copper-and-green with blue-and-purple “eyes” at the tips of the feathers. The hen is drab above, with a dark brown head and neck touched with green; her tail is dark blackish brown, and her flanks and underparts below the breast ‘ pale dirty buff. The bill and feet in both sexes are dark Torn colour. Young Peacocks at first resemble the hens, ut can be distinguished by their cinnamon flights, and the neck soon becomes blne ; they spread their tails and try to show off long before the train grows ; the plumage is not perfect till the third year. This Pea- fowl’s native home is India and Ceylon; but it was introduced into Europe many centuries ago, and is now known in all civilised countries. It is so far. domes- ticated that it can be allowed full liberty, and is per- fectly hardy in England, roosting out-of-doors in all weathers ; at the same time it bears confinement well, but is too noisy a bird to be kept neara house. Although Peacocks are not much given to fighting with each other, they are bold, somewhat vicious birds, and may at times be dangerous to weaker creatures, and even to children, and they also have the repu- tation of being very destructive in gardens. But a vicious Peacock can easily be got rid of, and, as to his horticultural misdeeds, it must be remembered that he isa whole flower garden inhimself! In his own country he is sacred, and it is stated that when Alex- ander the Great invaded it, he forbade his soldiers to kill the wild Peafowl, so much was he struck with the beauty of the birds; and we know also taat the bird fanciers in Greece thought a great deal of them when they became obtainable there—some are said to have travelled from ee to Athens to get even a sight of the splendid novelty. Nowadays the Peacock is rather a bye-word_ than otherwise, but I hope there will always be sufficient good taste among us to ensure the cultivation of the first and finest of fancy birds. The Peahen should be allowed to manage her own chicks; she is a good mother, and the young need more “mothering” than ordinary poultry, asthey remain with her much longer. They are very good eating, and are often shot for the table in India, though old birds are only fit for soup—a Pea- cock is supposed to be the proper foundation for “Mulligatawny.” It takes a good high fence to keep Peafowl in, even if their wings are cut; but though their flight is more regular and leisurely, when fairly launched, than that of most Game birds, they cannot _keep itup long, and may be ridden or even run down in the open. It may be mentioned as a great point in the Peacock’s favour that he kills and eats young snakes, even poisonous ones, so that people residing in adder-stricken localities should keep these birds as an aid to the exter- mination of these undesirable reptiles. Although the form of the Peacock does not seem liable to variation, this is not the case with the coloura- tion of the species. Most people have seen the white variety, which, if clean, has certainly a delicate beauty peculiarly its own, Itis much appreciated in India, and Mr. Rutledge constantly imports it. He tells me that he knows of a Rajah who has stocked his jungle with the breed. Pied birds are also seen, but I can’t say I think much of them from an esthetic point of view.