NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 41 



only instance our familiar friends the 

 blackbird and the partridge, and in no 

 bird is this trait more strongly marked 

 than in the pheasant. For reasons best 

 known to himself each cock in a covert 

 seems desirous of advertizing to all and 

 sundry the fact that he is about to retire 

 for the night in a certain tree. It is not 

 a habit exactly calculated to promote 

 health or longevity in districts where 

 poachers are many, though in winter it 

 certainly helps the keeper to take ready 

 count of his charges. Standing on the 

 ground below, the cock looks upwards to 

 his chosen perch, jerking his head forward 

 with a repeated metallic note, followed 

 by a succession of crows as he flies up and 

 settles down on his branch. 



The voice of the hen pheasant is less 

 familiar, and has thus been described by a 

 close observer of nature ; ^ — 



The hen pheasant seems to have three distinct 

 calls. The first may be described as a peevish 



^ The Natural History of British Game Birds, by Mr. J. 

 G. Millais. 



