HIGH PHEASANTS 



introduction of the Reeves' Pheasant and the Prince of 

 Wales into coverts for hybridisation with the other varieties 

 constitutes one means conducive towards the production of 

 high-flying Pheasants. 



The following essays are written by head-keepers who 

 have taken particular pains to ensure high Pheasants being 

 brought to the guns, and have expressed their opinions in 

 the form of essays, sent in response to a competition, opened 

 by the editors of the Gamekeeper. These essays are as 

 follows. The first one is from the pen of Mr George Beilby, 

 head-keeper, Kirklevington Hall, Yarm : — 



" The problem of showing high Pheasants on flat or 

 difficult ground is one of the most seasonable and one of 

 the most difficult to solve on shooting days, as there are 

 so many things which may happen to upset the most careful 

 plans. I think the wind is the worst of all if blowing from 

 the wrong direction. Shoots may be classed into two kinds, 

 namely, all Pheasants, and a mixed shoot — I mean a shoot 

 with a good percentage of ground game, which every keeper 

 knows is decreasing very rapidly, making things no better 

 for winged game. 



" I will take a place where there is nothing but 

 Pheasants kept. The first thing that must be seen to is to 

 have plenty of covert at the end of all drives or beats, so 

 that the birds may hide when driven up. This should be 

 attended to in the winter months if possible, as it will allow 

 the grass, etc., to grow through it and make it more natural 

 as well as bind it together. Next, the birds must be watched 

 to see where their favourite places are for working in and 

 out of the coverts. If they are not working in the direction 

 in which they will be required to go over the guns, the man 

 in charge must do his best to get them there, by arranging 



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