158 FAMILIAR WILL BIRDS. 



the end of the thirteenth century, as we read that 

 in the time of Edward I. a pheasant was valued in the 

 then currency of the country at fourpence ; after making- 

 due allowances for the alteration in the value of money, it 

 is clear that the bird has steadfastly kept its position in 

 the scale of public appreciation. 



The Pheasant is found in all parts of England, but 

 although large numbers are artificially bred and fed with 

 fowls at the gamekeeper's door, they never quite lose their 

 wild habits, and immediately retreat to their covers at 

 the approach of a dog or any strange and objectionable 

 objects. 



Wood and water are indispensable to the welfare of 

 Pheasants ; they seek the shelter of woods with thick 

 brushwood closely grown, and love to feed on the green- 

 sward of adjoining meadows, but generally close enough 

 to secure a hasty and uninterrupted retreat in case of alarm 

 or disturbance. At other times they exhibit a strong 

 partiality for some island in a lake or large pond, that may 

 be overgrown with rushes, reeds, or osiers. Hedgerows 

 and the borders of plantations are also favourite haunts, 

 but they very seldom venture into open and unprotected 

 localities. 



The food of the Pheasant consists of cereal grain, seeds, 

 green leaves, insects, especially ants, beech-mast, acorns, 

 blackberries, sloes, hips and haws, and the roots of the 

 golden buttercup. These birds are exceedingly troublesome 

 in the neighbourhood of gardens, and when they can 

 effect an entrance, feed freely on vegetables, seeds, and 

 roots. 



The young are principally fed upon ants* eggs and 

 insects, until they are fully capable of providing for 



