304 PHEASANTS AND BUSTARDS. 



operations were carried on with such persevering spirit, 

 that for fear of his doing some serious injury, particu- 

 larly to children, it was at last found necessary to destroy 

 him. 



This boldness is not always confined to the domestic 

 tenants of the farm-yard. The following instances 

 prove that even the wild Pheasant of the woods, and the 

 still more shy and solitary Bustard of the plains, can 

 occasionally lay aside their fear of the human race, and 

 fight as fierce a battle as this Game Cock. 



A young lady walking alone, a few miles from Stir- 

 ling, observed a beautiful cock Pheasant perched on a. 

 stone by the road-side. Instead of showing timidity at 

 her approach, he flew down upon her, and with spurs 

 and beak began a furious assault. Being closely pur- 

 sued, and seeing no way of escape from the enraged 

 bird, she adopted the only alternative that was left, 

 namely, of seizing her adversary, whom she carried 

 home, but soon afterwards released. On the door being 

 opened, however, he went out without any sign of fear, 

 and, with a deliberate step, paced backwards and for- 

 wards in front of the house, and manifested an inclina- 

 tion to join the fowls in the poultry-yard. It should be 

 remarked, that the young lady, when attacked, wore a 

 scarlet mantle, which probably excited the irritability of 

 the Pheasant, as it is well known to do that of the 

 Turkey-cock and some other animals. 



The case of the Bustard occurred some years ago on 

 Tilshead downs, in Wiltshire, in the month of June, to a 

 man who was going along the road on horseback, about 

 four o'clock in the morning. His attention was first 

 turned to a large bird flying above his head, which 

 proved to be a Bustard, though till then he had scarcely 

 ever heard of such a bird. He had not proceeded far 

 before it had alighted on the ground, immediately in 

 front of the horse, which it soon showed signs of attack- 

 ing, and in a few seconds began the onset. The rider 

 dismounted with all speed, and, getting hold of the Bus- 



