THE TRUE PHEASANTS. " 39 



several guns is the best way to bag them. I think they drive 

 away the common Pheasant {F. iorqiiatus)^ for I have never 

 seen the two species together. This may perhaps be due to the 

 fact of their h'ving on different food. I had with me at the 

 time a spaniel and a red Irish setter and, as the day was fine 

 and clear, walked on quietly until I came to what appeared a 

 good country. The hills here were lower and the wood fairly 

 dense, but free of undergrowth. A wood-cutter told me he had 

 seen several Pheasants a few days ago, but could give me no 

 further information, so, tying up my spaniel, I determined to 

 work quietly along with the setter. Although it was January, 

 the day was hot, and I was obliged to divest myself of my coat 

 as I struggled up the hill. I worked along the lower part with- 

 out coming on any scent. Suddenly the setter got very busy, 

 and moved along, showing me that he had some large game. 

 I followed on, as well as I could, over the broken ground. 

 False scent, back again ; then the dog took a turn up the 

 almost perpendicular rock. Good gracious ! I thought, how 

 can birds get up there and leave any scent? They had evi- 

 dently helped themselves with their wings. I was determined 

 to foUovr, and brought the setter back to a place where we suc- 

 ceeded in getting on to the upper ledge after a little scrambling. 

 Having arrived at the top, as I had anticipated, we soon came 

 on the scent again, and away went the dog, very cautiously 

 setting every now and again. Just ahead of us now was a 

 stone wall. I was very much afraid that my game would rise 

 just as I was getting over, so I made all preparation for a sur- 

 prise, and at the moment the setter, who had passed the wall, 

 was at a ' dead set.' I knew there were several birds or some 

 larger game by the general activity and caution shown by the 

 dog. I was soon over the wall, ready for anything. I surveyed 

 my position in a moment. Below me was long grass, on the 

 edge I had left some thick and high trees, on my right a hill, 

 also with long, rank grass, but no wood. I moved forward a few 

 paces, but the dog was there like a marble statue. I was very 



