86 PHEASANTS 



Unlike other game-birds pheasants are 

 on the move all day in fine weather, 

 keeping the sunny slopes of the hills, 

 and only stopping occasionally to sun 

 and dust themselves. 



In rough and wet weather they would 

 rather pass the day in the woods, if they 

 can find there food, cover, and freedom 

 from draught. They are most prone 

 to stray far afield on some fine frosty 

 morning after a spell of broken weather, 

 which has kept them close to home. 



The short round wings of the pheasant 

 betray the bird off the ground, and unless 

 headed off from home or pressed by 

 imminent danger, pheasants would always 

 choose to seek safety on terra jirma, the 

 hens by squatting close and trusting to 

 their protective colouring, the cocks by 

 running — and few birds can run further 

 or faster. 



The flight is strong but not sustained ; 

 on occasion individuals have been known 

 to cross the H umber where its width is 

 close on four miles, but as a rule a 



