316



R. T. Littlejohns and S. A. Lawrence,



pheasant lowered his head, made a sudden little run forward, and

vanished through the hedge.



VIII.


In rural districts with plenty of cover pheasants are common,

yet elusive. No matter how numerous they are, one does not see

many at a time, nor for long. They pass quickly across the scene,

and for the moment are the most notable feature in it, beautiful in

shape and colouring, alert in their movements, swift and graceful

when I'unning, powerful on the wing. They run with more ease

than most birds, excelled only by the landrail. They run at top

speed through the stubbles or across meadows, feed slowly and

deliberately in the clover, step through gaps with a whisk of their

long tails, or fly low in a slanting direction into the coverts. One

surprises them picking up corn round the ricks, and they sail with

long, sweeping flight into the woods. Early in the morning they

walk leisurely across the high road with a glance right and left, or

wander along the waggon-track, examining the remains dropped

from loaded carts and waggons. They rocket violently up and over

the tops of the highest trees, or slip across the woodland tracks and

out of sight. Working about a farm or strolling in the woods, one

sees pheasants, the cock pheasants so much more prominent than

the hens ; sees them for a few seconds or perhaps minutes, and then

they are gone. When invisible they can he heard, uttering loud,

metallic crows, warning, defiant, or triumphant; at other times

softer and deeper notes, expressive of contentment or well-fed

satisfaction.



OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FERN-TREE

GULLV DISTRICT (VIC.).*


By R. T. Littlejohns, R.A.O.U., and S. A. Lawrence, R.A.O.U.


For the last two or three seasons we have carried out our

modest observations with the comfort of a house at Upper Fern-tree

Gully as headquarters. Here we have used our limited opportunities

in an endeavour to secure photographs and reliable information of



From ‘ The Emu,’ with acknowledgments to the Editor.



