Color—Male—The male of the Mongolian pheasant can not be confounded with any other game bird in America. Its very long tail feathers—from fifteen to twenty inches—will always prove a distinguishing mark. Its rich metallic colors of black, cinnamon, chestnut and ocher give it a combination of hues surpassing that of any other of our game birds.
Female—Nor should the female ever be mistaken for any other bird. It partakes much of the general colors of the male, but much subdued and more of a general ochreous hue, the plumage being buff mottled with brown. The tail, however, is not more than one-fourth the length of that of the male.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is generally a depression on the ground, but often in the hollow of some log. The eggs number from 12 to 18 and are of a dark ochre in color.
Measurements—The measurements of a Mongolian pheasant are practically useless on account of the larger portion of it being the tail, which greatly varies in length.
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THE PIGEONS AND DOVES
The family Columbidæ is represented on the Pacific Coast by three genera which are considered, to more or less extent, legitimate game, though they can not be termed game birds in the generally accepted use of the term. Still as they are hunted to a very considerable extent by the sportsmen of the Coast, they rightfully belong in a work of this kind. I shall, therefore, give them a place, and briefly treat each species that is pursued as game within the territory under consideration.
THE WILD PIGEON