64 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



that among the gregarious and social kinds the unmated 

 ones as a rule have their chums in the flock. 



The friendship I observed between the two birds at 

 Wells reminded me of the case of a pheasant who had 

 human friends; it is the only instance I have met with 

 of a pheasant being kept as a household pet, and was 

 related to me by my old friend the late Dr. Cunninghame 

 Geikie, of Bournemouth, author of religious books. The 

 bird was a handsome cock, owned by a lady of that 

 place, who kept it for many years — ^he said nineteen, 

 but he may have been mistaken about the time. The 

 main thing was his disposition, his affection for his 

 people and the fine courage he displayed in protecting 

 them. His zeal in looking after them was at times 

 inconvenient. He was particularly attached to his mis- 

 tress, and liked to attend her on her walks, and made 

 himself her guardian. But he was distrustful of 

 strangers, and when she was at home he would keep 

 watch, and if he saw a visitor approaching the house — 

 some person he did not know — he would boldly sally 

 forth to meet and order him off the premises with suit- 

 able threatening gestures, which if not quickly obeyed 

 would be followed by a brisk attack, the blows, with 

 spurs, being aimed at the intruder's legs. 



