GAME-COVERTS 181 



is a valuable tree in this respect, of very 

 rapid growth, whose only fault is an over- 

 dense habit ; the Colorado variety is now 

 preferred by foresters to the Vancouver. 

 Pheasants are also very fond of roosting 

 in larches, but this is not a habit that 

 should be encouraged, for besides coming 

 off rather badly in rough weather they 

 then fall the easiest victims to the night 

 poacher : at the same time young larch 

 plantations make excellent coverts for 

 game, besides being the most profitable 

 crop known to forestry. The Japanese 

 larch is of much more rapid growth than 

 the European, especially during the first 

 ten years. 



Forest Trees. — The oak, beech, ilex, 

 ash and sycamore are the best timber 

 trees for pheasant-coverts by reason of 

 the natural food they afford. Of these 

 the oak is by far the most valuable, and 

 in some favoured districts the pheasants 

 will thrive on acorns and little else 

 throughout the winter. The beech is, 

 unfortunately, intolerant of any under- 



