Ring-Necked Pheasant

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25 CITY APR 29 1988 57701 Belhe SD RAPID

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RING-NECKED PHEASANT First Day of Issue: April 29, 1988 First Issue Location: Rapid City, South Dakota From the ancient land of Colchis on the Black Sea came the colorful pheasant. Proving to be an epicure's delight, the bird was eventually brought to ancient Greece and raised for food. From there, it was transported to Rome, and then to western Europe. And, as the thirteen colonies became a nation, the pheasant was introduced in the western hemisphere as well. As a result of importing, the pheasant has dispersed into almost every state of the Union. Today, American grain fields — particularly in North and South Dakota and Nebraska — are alive with the Ring-necked Pheasant. Literally, millions of these beautiful birds scurry through the low cover, feasting on the grains, seeds, and berries of the northern plains. When roused, they cackle noisily, taking to flight on whirring wings. It is a beautiful sight, the handsome male raising his iridescent head toward the sky, his long tail sporting plumes of color, bright against the firmament. The stamp on this Maximum Card depicts a Ring-necked Pheasant taking to the air. No. 88-19 ©1988 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Don Balke