THE PHEASANT. 169 



as long as possible, and, when obliged to take 

 wing, fly as fast and far as possible ; and no wild- 

 bred pheasant can do more. 



The reductio ad ahsurdum is generally 

 possible. To shoot a stag is the height of many 

 men's ambition. But to stand beside Queen 

 Ehzabeth and her ladies while with cross-bows 

 they fired into herds driven close by, killing or 

 wounding at every shot, w^ould give few people 

 any gratification. 



Wlien royal personages join in any sport, 

 they are bound to try to excel other perform- 

 ances. Noblesse oblige. It would not be the 

 thing to do less, and ' the fierce hght which 

 beats upon a throne' reveals all always. So 

 pheasant shooting can be overdone, as when we 

 read in the papers eleven hundred are shot in a 

 few hours m France. But when six English 

 gentlemen have bagged three hundred in some 

 six hours, although it is a splendid bag, and it 

 will require a cart and horse to carry it home 

 (such a serious grievance with some people), 



