IMPORTED PHEASANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 12

IMPORTED PHEASANTS

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON STREAMLINED TYPE OF BIRD ' PEDIGREE ENGLISH STOCK [by telegraph—own* correspondent] WELLINGTON, Thursday "They are streamlined birds," said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, when inspecting the Wellington Acclimatisation" Society's consignment of stud pheasants which arrived by the Rangitane yesterday from England. Although four hen birds died on the voyage, tho remaining 34 pheasants appeared in excellent condition, and the members of the society's council who met the liner expressed their complete satisfaction. The birds, comprising eight cocks and 26 hens, are intended for the Acclimatisation Society's game farm at Paraparaumu. They will be used to improve the strain of birds- being bred for liberation, to provide better game for the guns. They were obtained by their donor, Mr. Eric Riddifcird, from leading English breeders, and they are all pedigree birds. "I am extremely pleased to see that the birds have come out in such splendid condition," said Mr. Parry. "They are the proper streamlined type of pheasant. Our birds in New Zealand tend to become stocky, heavy, and less lively and active." He added that the Government was negotiating for the importation of a further batch of pheasants, for the State game farm at Rotorua. The birds were landed last night, and taken to Paraparaumu by car. They are at present moulting, and several of the hens consequently do not look at their best. The cocks, however, with burnished metallic plumage, gleaming copper and bronze and blue, are lordly fowl indeed.