PHEASANT. 183 



fields, at Alresford, when he saw a fine cock Pheasant run hurriedly 

 across the path. In an instant the bird dropped, and lay perfectly 

 still, and on looking more closely, he saw that the bird was lying 

 quite flat, pretending to be dead ; in order, no doubt, to escape 

 observation. He had heard of such a thing before, but had never 

 witnessed it. 



The Pheasant is polygamous. He leaves the whole duty of 

 incubation and of rearing the young birds to the hen. The nest 

 is little more than a few leaves, in a hole scratched in the ground, 

 beneath tall grass. It is very often placed close by a public 

 path, or highway road, where the bird and her eggs would be in 

 constant danger, but for the curious fact that during incubation the 

 bird does not give off any appreciable scent. Dogs accustomed to 

 hunt game will pass close by a Pheasant on her nest, without 

 detecting her presence. Mr. Tegetmeier considers this to be due 

 to vicarious secretion. The scent is not given off from the body as 

 usual, but is passed with the secretions, when the bird has left her 

 nest, and thus her safety is ensured. 



The Pheasant, Hke the domestic fowl, is terrestrial in habit. 

 He is very omnivorous, and at certain seasons of the year must be 

 considered as somewhat injurious to agriculture. In this respect, 

 however, when they are not too numerous, the great beauty of the 

 bird, the excellent sport he affords, and his high appreciation on 

 the table are sufficient to condone his faults. 



Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men 

 Will choose a Pheasant still before a hen. 



Pope. 



'Tis not the meat, but 'tis the appetite 



Makes eating a delight, 



And if I like one dish 

 More than another, that a Pheasant is. 



Suckling— 5onne^ 



In a wild state the food of the Pheasant consists of every 

 seed the farmer sows ; beans, peas, wheat, barley, or oats ; the 

 fresh green leaves of young corn, sprouting beans and peas, 

 clover, rape and turnips. In the severe weather of winter he 

 picks holes through the tough skin of the turnip bulbs, and 



