THE TRUE PHEASANTS, II 
scattered over large parks are much resorted to, for the birds 
seldom stray far from the shelter of the trees, and retire on 
the slightest approach of danger, being decidedly shy and 
retiring in their habits. 
Most of our readers are well acquainted with the Common 
Pheasant in a semi-domesticated state, when it is undoubtedly 
polygamous, one male pairing with many females, but there 
seems to be good reason for believing that this habit has been 
acquired ; for, in a really wild state, all the evidence, though it is 
certainly somewhat scanty, tends to show that this, as well as 
the other species of Phastanus, are monogamous, the cock 
bird remaining with the female during the period of incubation, 
and taking part in the duties of protecting and rearing the 
young. In this, as in other countries, where Pheasants are 
reared for sport, the greater number of birds killed are cocks, 
and hence in the following spring there is generally a pre- 
ponderance of females ; which may account for the polygamous 
habits of introduced birds. ‘The males are remarkably quarrel- 
some in the pairing-season, fighting fiercely with one another 
for the different females, the more powerful birds appropriating 
the lion’s share for their harem. When the females have laid 
their full complement of eggs, the male troubles his head no 
more about them, leaving them to undertake all the cares of 
rearing their family unaided. They cannot be called good 
mothers, for, unlike the majority of game-birds, on the approach 
of danger, they seek safely in flight, leaving the young to escape 
and hide themselves as best they can. This habit is often 
extremely disastrous to the brood, especially when the chicks 
are very small, for, on her return, the mother is apparently per- 
fectly satisfied with finding one or two of her scattered young, 
and the remainder are consequently left to perish. For this 
reason gamekeepers are naturally anxious that the coverts, 
where ‘wild birds” are breeding, shouid not be disturbed 
during the nesting-season, and it is hardly surprising that they 
should treat trespassers with scant courtesy, The majority of 
