Photo by C. Reid] [Wishaw, N.B.
GOLDEN PHEASANT.
This bird is often kept in aviaries, on account of its magnificent livery.
Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S., Regent's Park.
GOLDEN PHEASANT.
This bird is moulting. In full dress the cape seen in the upper figure is golden with blue-black bars.
The prairie-hens of America possess great economic value, as great, indeed, as the red grouse of the British Islands, enormous numbers of prairie-hens being exported to Europe every year, whilst still greater numbers are consumed by the American people themselves. It is said that American grouse will sometimes eat the shoots of a plant called kalmia, which renders the flesh poisonous.
The Sage-grouse is a rather large bird, attaining a weight of 8 lbs., found in the Western United States; it is, indeed, the largest of the American grouse. Its courting habits resemble those of the prairie-hens. From the book containing the above lively description we cull the following:—
