PHASIANID®. 809 
gives a receipt “for to boile Fesant, Ptruch, Capons 
and Curlew:” this book appears to have been written 
about A.p. 1381. The Pheasant is also mentioned 
in the old ballad of the “ Battle of Otterbourne,” 
still in Richard the Second’s time—about 1388: 
“The Faulkone and the Fesante bothe 
Amonge the holtes on hee :” 
and from that time to this the Pheasant is occasion- 
ally mentioned by different writers. Mr. Harting 
notices it amongst the “ Birds of Shakspere:”’ 
** Clown—Advocate’s the court word for a Pheasant; say 
you have none. 
Shepherd—None, sir; I have no Pheasant, cock nor 
hen.” 
The Pheasant, however, thrives and has thriven in 
England for a very considerable period, and the 
climate appears, to a certain extent, to suit it; at 
the same time I think it may be doubted whether 
this bird would have lasted so long, or would 
continue to claim a place among British birds, 
without the care and attention and occasional food 
bestowed upon it: a few hard winters and wet 
springs and summers would reduce its numbers 
sadly; its numbers certainly could not be kept up to 
the present battue standard without artificial means ; 
accordingly great quantities are kept tame and bred 
up lke poultry, and merely turned out to be shot: 
to what an extent this is done in some places may be 
