312



Mr. A. R. Williams,



the top, the stretch being completed by a plantation of larch and

ash and hazel saplings. Going up under the hedge with a load

of hurdles to get to the adjacent sheep-field, we surprised three

pheasants, a cock and two hens. We did not see them for long.

They were in the top corner. When they heard the waggon the

two hens scuttled away through a gap in the hedge. The cock stood

for a moment with his back towards us, his head turned to the right,

the embodiment of watchful caution, then he followed his wives.

On our return journey we saw several pheasants feeding close to

the top hedge, but a long way from us, only near enough to he

recognised as pheasants.


At the second journey up we saw a cock pheasant and three

hens wandering along in front of us near to the hedge. They had

not yet noticed us, and I jumped through a gap in the hedge, intend¬

ing to get ahead of them, and then come through the gateway

to meet them. I walked quickly and as quietly as I could, and

reckoned that I should be level with them at the group of ash poles.

I got to the ash saplings, and was about to make a cUtour out into

the field for the purpose of not startling the birds, when a sandy-

brown patch of feathers crept through the hedge immediately ahead.

She turned her head, caught sight of me, darted back, and disap¬

peared through the gap whence she had come. A moment later I

heard the beat of strong wings forcing heavy bodies upwards, and

four pheasants soared high over the hedge and away to the planta¬

tion. It is an interesting speculation whether the hen pheasant

gave warning to the others or not, or they may have heard me, or

more likely, have been alarmed by the oncoming waggon and team.


During a subsequent journey in the afternoon we were more

fortunate. A cock and hen pheasant were feeding in the clover a

short distance to our left. They ignored our presence, and went on

searching in the long clover. By the light of the afternoon sun

we could see the cock bird in all his glory, resplendent in sheen of

bluish-green glossy head and neck, bounded by a pure white ring

below, chestnut-brown plumage, almost bright enough under the

wings to be called red, and the graceful, tremulous tail barred black

on a reddish ground. Such vivid colouring gives the bird an exotic

appearance, yet fits in well with an autumnal landscape.



