80 THE COMMON PHEASANT. 



the Asiatic Continent, extending over the greater part of it, and 

 reaching to China and the confines of Tartary. Now, however, 

 it is much more extended, and its facility of domestication and 

 hardy constitution suit it for almost every country. It is abun- 

 dant even in Siberia, where the inhabitants adorn their caps with 

 its plume; and one of the governors of St. Helena succeeded in 

 almost naturalizing it to the more barren soil of that island. In 

 the greater part of Europe, it is completely naturalized ; and we 

 have heard of its introduction to North America, where it will 

 certainly thrive. Doctor Gilgeous, who so long resided amongst 

 us, and made natural history a study, has introduced the brown, 

 the golden, and the silver pheasants, into Demerara : we have 

 not yet learned with what success. We are not aware of any 

 similar attempt having been made, either in Africa or New 

 Holland. In the latter climate we should have little doubt of its 

 succeeding, but the climate of Africa we should consider as one of 

 the most unpropitious for its establishment ; we are in greater 

 uncertainty of the time of its introduction into Great Britain than 

 of its original discovery. They are mentioned in Echard's History 

 of England, as worth only 4d., in 1299. Two hundred made part 

 of the great feast of Archbishop Neville, about the middle of 1400 ; 

 and in the regulations of the fifth Earl of Northumberland, begun 

 in 1512, we find their value increased to 16|d. each. Upon the 

 Scottish border, and high Cheviot range, they must have been 

 early abundant. The common pheasant does not much differ in 

 its markings from those of the mixed breed we are accustomed to 

 see, except in the entire want of the ring, and the peculiar tint 

 upon the head and rump ; but it is longer, by five or six inches, 

 than the other, extending to three feet. Of the habits of these 

 birds, in a natural state, we know little in reality, but have no 

 reason to doubt their similarity to those exhibited in our own 

 country; and the deep, matted jungles of India, particularly 

 where water abounds, must be their favourite resort. In their 

 naturalized state, woods, with a thick undergrowth of brush, 

 brambles, long grass, &c., and interspersed with open glades, 

 which some little stream refreshes, and the sun enlivens, are their 

 delight during the day, whence they run, morning and evening, 

 to the open skirts, where some favourite food abounds. It is m 

 their way to such feeding ground that they are so easily secured 

 by unqualified persons; for, never taking flight unless when 

 disturbed, they run and tread their way through these tangled 

 brakes, and leave passages which are easily distinguished by the 

 practised eye of the poacher. During the winter months, the 



