THE TRUE PHEASANTS, 39 
several guns is the best way to bag them. I think they drive 
away the common Pheasant (P. éorquatus), for I have never 
seen the two species together. This may perhaps be due to the 
fact of their living on different food. I had with me at the 
time a spaniel and a red Irish setter and, as the day was fine 
and clear, walked on quietly until I came to what appeared a 
good country. The hills here were lower and the wood fairly 
dense, but free of undergrowth. A wood-cutter told me he had 
seen several Pheasants a few days ago, but could give me no 
further information, so, tying up my spaniel, I determined to 
work quietly along with the setter. Although it was January, 
the day was hot, and I was obliged to divest myself of my coat 
as I struggled up the hill. I worked along the lower part with- 
out coming on any scent. Suddenly the setter got very busy, 
and moved along, showing me that he had some large game. 
I followed on, as well as I could, over the broken ground. 
False scent, back again; then the dog took a turn up the 
almost perpendicular rock. Good gracious! I thought, how 
can birds get up there and leave any scent? They had evi- 
dently helped themselves with their wings. I was determined 
to follow, and brought the setter back to a place where we suc- 
ceeded in getting on to the upper ledge after a little scrambling. 
Having arrived at the top, as I had anticipated, we soon came 
on the scent again, and away went the dog, very cautiously 
setting every now and again. Just ahead of us now was a 
stone wall. I was very much afraid that my game would rise 
just as I was getting over, so I made all preparation for a sur- 
prise, and at the moment the setter, who had passed the wall, 
was at a ‘dead set.’ I knew there were several birds or some 
larger game by the general activity and caution shown by the 
dog. I wassoon over the wall, ready for anything. I surveyed 
my position ina moment. Below me was long grass, on the 
edge I had left some thick and high trees, on my right a hill, 
also with long, rank grass, but no wood. I moved forward a few 
paces, but the dog was there like a marble statue. I was very 
