35S THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



polygamous in our islands, one male running with 

 several females. Towards the end of March the cocks 

 begin to crow and fight for the possession of the hens, 

 and about a month later the latter go to nest. On 

 estates where the birds are common, many nests may 

 be found within a small area, and all through the breed- 

 ing season more or less social instincts prevail. The 

 nest is almost invariably made on the ground, but 

 instances are on record of its being found in stacks, and 

 even in a disused squirrel's drey. It is often made 

 amongst the undergrowth of the woods' and plantations, 

 or at the bottom of a hedge or dry ditch, or amongst 

 growing grain and other crops. Sometimes it is made 

 in the centre of a tuft of rushes, under brambles or 

 heaps of cut brushwood. It is merely a hollow, lined 

 with a few dead leaves, bits of withered bracken, or dry 

 grass. The female sits closely, but when disturbed 

 hurries from her charge into the nearest cover with little 

 or no demonstration, but often with startling suddenness. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Pheasant are usually from eight to 

 twelve in number, sometimes as many as twenty, and I 

 have known twenty-six ! They are smooth in texture, 

 somewhat polished, but the shell is finely pitted, and 

 vary from brown, through olive-brown, to bluish-green 

 in colour. Occasionally one of the bluish-green type 

 occurs among a clutch of the more usual tint. Average 

 measurement, r8 inch in length, by i"4 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed by the female, lasts about twenty- 

 four days. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Pheasant 

 may be readily distinguished by their uniform olive or 

 brown tint, and their size, from those of all other species 

 breeding in our area. 



