64 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



of the hens ; the male puffs out his plumage and struts 

 about in a most frenzied manner. Flight powerful and 

 rapid. It perches on trees. 



Food. Berries, acorns, &c. ; especially the shoots of 

 the Scotch fir and fir-needles. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. In hollow in the ground, among heather or 

 under tree or bush. 



Materials. If any, a few pieces of grass. 



Eggs. Five to twelve or more. Pale reddish yellow 

 or buffish, spotted and speckled with reddish brown. 

 Like Black Grouse's, only larger. 



PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus). 



Common and found in woods, coming out into the open 

 to feed. Nowadays Pheasant -rearing has assumed such 

 gigantic proportions that many birds are semi-domesti- 

 cated. A Chinese species the Ring-necked Pheasant 

 has been introduced in countless numbers, and these 

 have interbred so much with our wild Pheasant that one 

 rarely finds a true type of British bird. Our Pheasant 

 has no ring at all round the neck. 



Plumage. Head and neck radiant with green and 

 purple reflections. Sides of face nude and scarlet, 

 minutely speckled with black ; otherwise plumage 

 richly variegated with black, brown, green, purple, red, 

 and yellow. Bill, horn colour. Tail long. Length 

 36 in. Female, smaller ; light brown, marked with 

 darker brown ; sides of face feathered. Young in 

 down yellowish buff marked with dark brown ; paler 

 below. 



Language. A loud squawk, like " gurrg." 



Habits. On the ground it runs very rapidly ; when 

 flushed it shoots up with much noise, like a rocket. 

 Flight powerful and rapid. Polygamous ; the males 

 fighting for the hens. 



