196 PHEASANTS 



pheasant was encouraged in every way 

 nearly 2000 might be killed each year on 

 the same ground without the use of a 

 single coop. 



Shelter is a most important considera- 

 tion for the welfare of the pheasant. 

 Wild birds can do well enough in an 

 open country through spring, summer 

 and autumn, and in September it is 

 common enough to see great numbers of 

 pheasants in the turnip fields of some 

 cultivated district, where the crops and a 

 few thin hedgerows are all the available 

 cover. But with the approach of cold 

 weather all these birds will be gone, 

 wandering for miles until they find warm 

 woods for winter quarters. 



Even where considerations of economy 

 forbid any thought of planting regular 

 woods in a bare country, much can be 

 done towards encouraging a resident 

 population of wild pheasants by fencing 

 off and planting odd corners of little or 

 no value to the farmer, but serving to 

 give game the shelter and quiet they 



