196 RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 



abundant, and the ample store of wild fruits and ber- 

 ries which nature has every where provided, render 

 this their time of feasting. As winter approaches, they 

 are reduced to less various fare, and resort to the fal- 

 lows in search of roots, and to the turnip fields; and 

 Mr Selby has remarked, that the roots of the bul- 

 bous crowfoot (Ranunculus bulbosus\ and of the 

 garden tulip, are both much sought after. The lat- 

 ter they omit no opportunity of obtaining, and which, 

 by means of the bill and feet, they are almost certain 

 to reach, however deep it may be buried. In extensive 

 preserves, during this season, they are always regu- 

 larly fed, and know the feeding hour and call of the 

 keeper correctly, and by this means they are pre- 

 vented from straying. The most successful and fa- 

 vourite food at these times is peas or grain. In the 

 south of England, the breeding of pheasants for the 

 supply of preserves, is carried on to a great extent, 

 and on this account the bird can almost never be seen 

 except in an artificial state ; for being turned out of the 

 nursing-houses early in the season, and fed and nursed 

 in the covers for the winter's batteau, they are slug- 

 gish and lazy, quite fearless, and can afford any 

 thing but sport to one accustomed to follow game 

 in their wild and natural haunts. The slaughter at 

 these shooting meetings is sometimes so immense, that 

 the game can scarcely be made use of, and they were 

 formerly much more wanton on the Continent than 

 in England. 



In perhaps the largest game establishment of 



