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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., January 18, 1910. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith and to recommend for publication as a Farmers' Bulletin a report on Pheasant Raising in the United States, by Henry Oldys, assistant in the Biological Survey. The propagation of pheasants is a comparatively new industry in the United States, but it has grown rapidly in the past few years, and by proper management may be made profitable. A steadily growing demand for pheasants insures a ready market for all that can be raised. The present bulletin, prepared in response to numerous inquiries for information on the subject, is designed to present a clear and concise account of the methods used by successful pheasant raisers. To add to its practical value, a chapter on the diseases to which pheasants are subject has been contributed by Dr. George Byron Morse, of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

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11. Versicolor pheasant.

12. Breeding pen on a Long Island preserve (showing base).. 13. Breeding pen on a New Jersey preserve (showing trough).

14. Breeding pen on a New Jersey preserve..

15. Rearing field.

16. Coops used on a New Jersey preserve.. 17. Coop used on an Illinois pheasantry..

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FIG. 1.-Pheasants feeding -state game farm near Springfield, Ill. (From photograph furnished by the state game commissioner.)

PHEASANT RAISING IN THE UNITED STATES.

INTRODUCTION.

Within recent years a new industry, the rearing of pheasants, has begun to engage attention in the United States, and propagating ventures, ranging from the single pen with one or two pairs of birds to the pheasantry of many acres and thousands of birds, are scattered throughout the country. Some of these experiments have been conducted by the States through their game officials; others by associations and individuals. In a few cases large expense has been incurred and great care and attention have been bestowed on the experiments. Efforts have been made also to stock numerous public and private parks, preserves, and aviaries. To supply the demand, not only have pheasants been imported from the Old World, but many persons in this country have undertaken to rear them. In view of the widespread and rapidly increasing interest in the subject, the Department of Agriculture has made a special investigation of the methods of pheasant raising. The results are here condensed in the form of practical suggestions for the benefit of those interested in the industry.

SPECIES OF PHEASANTS.

A few words as to different kinds of pheasants are essential to a proper understanding of the subject of pheasant propagation.

The ringneck pheasant (Phasianus torquatus), usually imported from China, its natural home, has a broad white ring about the neck. It is variously called ringneck pheasant, Chinese pheasant, China pheasant, China torquatus pheasant, Chinese ringneck, Mongolian pheasant, Denny pheasant, and Oregon pheasant (fig. 2).a

The English pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) has no ring about the neck. It is imported from Europe, but in comparatively small numbers, and is known as the English pheasant, dark-necked pheasant, and Hungarian pheasant (fig. 3).

a Present knowledge indicates that the ringneck really comprises several species and subspecies that have been included under a single name, but in the absence of a final decision of the matter the name will here be used as referring to a single species.

The English ringneck pheasant (Phasianus colchicus X torquatus),

a hybrid between the English and ringneck pheasants, has been

FIG. 2.-Ringneck pheasant (Phasianus torquatus). (From photograph of specimen in the U. S. National Museum mounted by Nelson R. Wood.)

brought from Europe in large numbers. It is generally correctly named, but is sometimes designated as English pheasant, ringneck

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FIG. 3.-English pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). (From photograph of specimen in the U. S. National Museum mounted by Harry Denslow.)

pheasant, and even Mongolian pheasant. It often has more or less of the blood of the versicolor pheasant of Japan (Phasianus versi

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