THE PHEASANT FAMILY 27 



reluctance to rise more than a few feet 

 from the ground. 



The Reeves does not patiently endure 

 the restrictions of a narrowly enclosed 

 country ; and it is only in the wilder 

 parts of Britain, where the natural 

 features are all on a larger scale, and 

 rough woods of wide extent clothe the 

 open hillsides, that he can find free scope 

 for his wandering habits. Here cultiva- 

 tion is scarce, and ordinary pheasants 

 either would not thrive, or could not be 

 shown to advantage— the heavy stock 

 required to cover the inevitable wastage 

 in shooting a big wood often forbidding 

 the attempt. 



Many such places can be found in the 

 Highlands of Scotland, the Border hills, 

 the Lake country, and the mountains 

 of Wales. Then no bird should show 

 prettier sport ; small days, perhaps, but 

 days of hard work and difficult shooting 

 in wild and beautiful setting; for the 

 Reeves, when deprived of free use of 

 his legs on rough and hilly ground, gets 



