PHEASANTS AND BUSTARDS. 



277 



women were protected by the lower part of their dress ; and 

 accordingly, instead of flying at their legs and feet, he invari- 

 ably flew at their heads, fixing himself on their shoulders. To 

 such a degree did he carry on this warfare, that the female 

 who had charge of feeding the fowls, and had been accustomed 



The Cock. 



to poultry all her life, never ventured into the yard without 

 some weapon of defence. His offensive operations were carried 

 on with such persevering spirit, that for fear of his doing some 

 serious injury, particularly to children, it was at last found 

 necessary to destroy him. 



This boldness is not always confined to the domestic tenants 

 of the farmyard. 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 Stirling, ob- 

 served a beautiful cock Pheasant perched on a stone by the 

 roadside. Instead of showing timidity at her approach, he 

 flew down upon her, and with spurs and beak began a furious 

 assault. Being closely pursued, 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 



