COMMON PHEASANT. 123 



visions of Scotland, being harboured, on account of its beauty, 

 the excellence of its flesh, and the sport which it affords, by 

 most of the great landed proprietors. Although scarcely able 

 to subsist, if left to itself, it is yet in a great measure natural- 

 ized. Its favourite places of resort are thick plantations or 

 tangled woods by streams, where, among the long grass, bram- 

 bles, and other shrubs, it passes the night, sleeping on the 

 ground in summer and autumn, but commonly roosting in the 

 trees in winter. Early in the morning it betakes itself to the 

 open fields to search for its food, which consists of the tender 

 shoots of various plants, grass, bulbous roots, roots of gi-asses 

 and Potentilla anserina, turnip tops, as well as worms and 

 insects. In autumn, and the early part of winter, it obtains 

 a plentiful supply of grain, acorns, beech nuts, and small fruits. 

 In severe weather, however, especially where great numbers 

 are kept, the pheasants require to be fed with grain, when they 

 learn to attend at the call of the keeper. 



This bird walks and runs much in the same manner as the 

 domestic fowl, which it greatly resembles in its manners. Al- 

 though it betakes itself to trees either for repose, or when dis- 

 turbed by an intruder, its proper place is on the ground, where 

 it runs with great speed, keeping its tail nearly horizontal. 

 When feeding without apprehension, it holds the tail more 

 elevated, the w4ngs rather drooping, traverses the ground in a 

 stooping posture, running at intervals ; and on being alarmed, 

 either speeds on foot to the nearest cover, or flies off. Its flight 

 is hea-sy, direct, performed by rapid beats of the wings, the tail 

 expanded. 



From its habits it becomes an easy prey to the sportsman 

 and poacher. Its great size and direct flight render it no dif- 

 ficult matter for an indifferent marksman to hit it, while the 

 paths which it forms in the thickets, vvhence it issues to search 

 the neighbouring fields, afford favourable places for snares. It 

 is even caught on its roost with a noose affixed to a long pole, 

 or suffocated with the fumes of sulphur. 



The males generally keep by themselves during winter, and 

 in spring separate, each selecting a particular spot, where he 

 struts, and invites the females by crowing and clapping his 



