PHEASANTS. 



young birds become remarkably sweet and juicy. Old birds are sometimes 

 put to the spit, but are by no means so good as when the breasts are made 

 into cutlets and the residue boiled down into a rich soup." 



Suh-Faniily II. 

 THE TRUE PHEASANTS. PHASIANIN/E. 



General Characteristics. — Tail more or less lengthened, greatly cuneated, and 

 composed of narrow and cuneated feathers. 



The native countries of these birds are the mountainous dis- 

 tricts of Asia, extending even to Japan, but some of the species 

 have become naturalized in the temperate parts of Europe. They 

 are found lying concealed during the day in jungles, covers, and 

 long grass, living into divided societies of different sexes. Towards 

 the spring they separate into families, consisting of a male and 

 several females ; and the party generally takes possession of a 

 certain locality, from which the commander is very particular in 

 driving away all male intruders. When suddenly disturbed, they 

 endeavour to escape by using their legs rather than their wings. 

 Their flight is rapid and noisy when first started, but is sustained 

 only for a short distance. Various kinds of grain and insects form 

 their principal food: these are usually sought for at sunset. They 

 also seek for bulbous roots, which are obtained by means of their 

 bill and feet. Their eggs are deposited on long grass, without any 

 kind of nest, and are about ten in number. 



The t}'pical species — 



The Common Pheasant {P/iasiinms Colchiais), although abundant in 

 most parts of Britain, is not a native of this country, but has been introduced 

 here, and into the southern parts of Europe generally, from the south-west of 

 the Asiatic continent. The particular district from which the progenitors of 

 the pheasants now inhabiting Europe were derived, is supposed to have been 

 the banks of the river Phasis, in the ancient kingdom of Colchis, on the east- 

 ern shore of the Black Sea, and the bird is still abundant in a wild state in 

 the Caucasian provinces. Its scientific name, Phasianus Colchicus, is derived 

 from the river and kingdom above mentioned. 



The favourite resort of the pheasant is thick underwood abounding in bram- 

 bles and long grass ; and here it lies concealed during the day, its time for 

 feeding in the adjoining fields being at dawn and at sunset. In its progress 

 to its feeding-ground it always runs, and on this account is very easily taken 

 by wire snares set in the narrow paths that it makes through the long grass 



