240 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



and other species. More or less perfect albinisms 

 are not uncommon. 



Looking at the Pheasant as I do in the light of a 

 bird that we rear ourselves — many thousands being 

 hatched out every season wherever there are large 

 sporting estates — I should think its abundance, or 

 otherwise, must rest somewhat upon the proportion 

 killed to those reared. Of course, there are many 

 places in Asia where the birds exist and breed in 

 their wild state. 



The Pheasant is hardy, and thrives under con- 

 ditions that are suitable — woods with thick under- 

 growth, cultivated land round about, and water not 

 far off. But after all, when one writes about such a 

 bird as this, one thinks more about it in connection 

 with its being one of the chief instruments we have 

 to provide magnificent sport for Kings, Princes, 

 Dukes, and the aristocracy generally. Wealthy 

 landowners invite their relatives and friends to big 

 shoots during the winter months ; these are called 

 " Battues." The guns are posted round the woods 

 and the birds driven over their heads. Bags may 

 be anything from i,ooo to 2,000 birds in a day. I 

 myself have only been fortunate enough to have 

 had a small experience of what this shooting is like ; 

 but it was quite sufficient to give me a very fair 

 idea. We had three days of it altogether, at 

 different intervals, the total bag approximating to 

 1,000 birds. 



I began very badly on the first day, but I 

 gradually improved, and continued to do so. The 



