THE TRUE PHEASANTS. II 



scattered over large parks are much resorted to, for tlie birds 

 seldom stray far from the shelter of the trees, and retire on 

 the slightest approach of danger, being decidedly shy and 

 retiring in their habits. 



Most of our readers are well acquainted with the Common 

 Pheasant in a semi-domesticated state, when it is undoubtedly 

 polygamous, one male pairing with many females, but there 

 seems to be good reason for believing that this habit has been 

 acquired ; for, in a really wild state, all the evidence, though it is 

 certainly somewhat scanty, tends to show that this, as well as 

 the other species of Fhasiafiiis, are monogamous, the cock 

 bird remaining with the female during the period of incubation, 

 and taking part in the duties of protecting and rearing the 

 young. In this, as in other countries, where Pheasants are 

 reared for sport, the greater number of birds killed are cocks, 

 and hence in the following spring there is generally a pre- 

 ponderance of females ; which may account for the polygamous 

 habits of introduced birds. The males are remarkably quarrel- 

 some in the pairing-season, fighting fiercely with one another 

 for the different females, the more powerful birds appropriating 

 the lion's share for their harem. When the females have laid 

 their full complement of eggs, the male troubles his head no 

 more about them, leaving them to undertake all the cares of 

 rearing their family unaided. They cannot be called good 

 mothers, for, unlike the majority of game-birds, on the approach 

 of danger, they seek safely in flight, leaving the young to escape 

 and hide themselves as best they can. This habit is often 

 extremely disastrous to the brood, especially when the chicks 

 are very small, for, on her return^ the mother is apparently per- 

 fectly satisfied with finding one or two of her scattered young, 

 and the remainder are consequently left to perish. For this 

 reason gamekeepers are naturally anxious that the coverts, 

 where " wild birds " are breeding, should not be disturbed 

 u{iring the nesting-season, and it is hardly surprising that they 

 §liould treat trespassers \yith scant courtesy. The majority of 



