54 THE PHEASANT SUBFAMILY 



for many instances of such resorts for a nursery are on record. It is 

 significant in this connection to note that young birds, till half-grown, 

 always roost on the ground. 



Having now briefly outlined what we may call the daily round of 

 the pheasant's life, we may turn to that which concerns the repro- 

 ductive period. There can hardly be any doubt but that this bird 

 is naturally polygamous, though Mr. Ogilvie- Grant and others are 

 inclined to believe that polygamy is a result of the artificial condi- 

 tions of existence caused by the deliberate slaughter of males, a policy 

 dictated in the interests of sport. It is true that among the semi- 

 domesticated birds of our coverts, instances of monogamy are by no 

 means rare, the male guarding the hen while brooding, and even taking 

 a share in incubation ; and there are many instances of dogs and men 

 being attacked by cocks at such times. Cocks have also been seen 

 attending broods of young. But the contention that the males, in 

 a wild state, remain with the females during the period of incubation, 

 and later take part in rearing and protecting the young, lacks con- 

 firmation. Courting begins at the end of March, when the smouldering 

 fires which are to burst forth immediately in strange antics begin 

 to manifest themselves in a more mincing, yet stately gait, the 

 tumescence of the bare skin over the face, and the raising of the 

 " ears " which at other times of the year are lost to view in the 

 general plumage of the head. When displaying to the female of his 

 choice, the wing nearest her is dropped, the scapulars of the same 

 side are drawn down, the tail is spread and twisted sideways 

 towards her, the rump feathers are raised, the head and neck are 

 bowed earthwards, and turned so as to display to the fullest advantage 

 their gorgeous colouring of vermilion and metallic blue and green. 

 Meanwhile, the female walks coquettishly away, or pecks about in 

 apparent unconcern. He then walks round her and displays the 

 other side in a similar fashion, until at last, not so much because of 

 his persistence, as because by now the female herself has become 

 amorous, he is rewarded for his seductive advances. Be it noted 



