1 82 PHEASANT. 



400, Geese 2,000, Bitters 204, Curlews 100, Egrittes 1,000, Pigeons 

 4,000, Capons 1,000, with large quantity of other meats." 



In the Household Book of L'Estranges of Hunstanton (15 19 

 to 1578) there are such entries in the reign of Henry VHI. as 

 " VJ fesands and IJ Ptrychys kyllyed ^^t the Hauks." " Item, to 

 Mr. Ashley's servant for brynging a Fesant Cocke and four 

 Woodcocks on the i8th day of October, in reward, four-pence." 

 " Item, a Fesant kylled with a Goshawke," 



Similar allusions are made in the Household Book of Henry 

 Percy, the fifth Earl of Northumberland (15 12), and the list of 

 the prices of the following birds, amongst others, are given : 

 "Chickeyns at }^d a pece, Hennys at iid a pece, Geysse iiid or 

 iiiid at the moste, Plovers id or i^d at moste, Crayns xvid a pece, 

 Hearonshays xiid a pece, Mallardes iid a pece, Teylles id a pece, 

 Woodcokes id or i)^d at the moste, Wypes (i.e.^ Lapwings) id a 

 pece, Quaylles iid a pece at moste, Pertryges at iid a pece, Bytters 

 (Bitterns) xiid, Fesauntes xiid, Kyrlewes xiid a pece, Pacokes xiid 

 a pece, Dottrells id a pece, &c." 



From the time of the Tudor monarchs, Pheasants and Partridges 

 are specified in many statutes for the protection of game, and have, 

 therefore, been well-known. 



The Pheasant is very readily tamed, but can never be domesti- 

 cated. H e has an innate shyness and timidity that makes every 

 attempt to do so a failure. He will feed regularly with the common 

 poultry, and eat from the hand, but on any sudden alarm, off he 

 flies at a moment's notice to the nearest covert. The common 

 Cock struts and crows, proud of himself, and vainly conscious of 

 the admiration he excites, but 



Not so the Pheasant on his charms presumes, 

 Though he too has a glory in his plumes. 

 He, christianlike, retreats with modest mien 

 To the close copse, or far-sequester'd green, 

 And shines without desiring to be seen. 



CowPER— I'rM^A, 66. 



The Rev. Thos. Woodhouse mentions the following curious 

 anecdote of a Pheasant. A friend of his was walking through the 



