228 RED DEER. 



out for the creeps which the pheasants have 

 made for themselves over mounds. They 

 wander a good deal from cover, and especi- 

 ally towards barley and barley-stubble, called 

 barley-harrish in Red Deer Land. To get to 

 the corn they have to pass through hedges, and 

 their tracks are easily found on the mounds. 

 Wires are set in these creeps, and the phea- 

 sants are caught as they go out to feed. 



Sometimes in winter wires for pheasants 

 are set round corn-ricks, to which the birds 

 resort. All poaching is founded on the 

 habits of wild creatures. Partridges in 

 winter also resort to corn-ricks, and are 

 occasionally shot there by poachers. Both 

 pheasants and partridges are fond of ants' 

 eggs. In covers the large wood-ants, which 

 are about half an inch long, make immense 

 nests of leaves and fibres, quite mounds, and 

 to these the young pheasants go and take 

 as many eggs as they can. The ants often 



