THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT. 355 



during the winter, and separate from the females. They 

 come together again about the first of March, when the male 

 assumes an altered appearance ; the scarlet of his cheeks, and 

 around his eyes, acquires additional depth of colour, he walks 

 with a more measured step, with his wings let down, and 

 with his tail carried in a more erect position. Being poly- 

 gamous, he now takes possession of a certain beat, from which 

 he drives every male intruder, and commences his crowing, 

 attended with a peculiar clapping of the wings, which answers 

 as the note of invitation to the other sex, as well as of defiance 

 to his own. 



As previously stated, the food of the Pheasant is tender 

 roots, insects with their larvae as the autumn advances, 

 the ripening grains of all kinds are abundant, and the wild 

 fruits and berries, which a kind Providence has everywhere 

 provided, render this their time of feasting. As winter ap- 

 proaches, they are reduced to less various fare, and resort to 

 the fallow and turnip-fields, in search of roots, &c. In well- 

 kept preserves, during this season, they are always regularly 

 fed, and know the feeding-hour and call of the keeper cor- 

 rectly, and by this means they are prevented from straying. 

 The most successful and favourite food, at these times, is peas 

 or grain. 



Although it is rather difficult to effect a cross between the 

 Pheasant and our Domestic Fowl, it has nevertheless been 

 done ; but, beyond a first cross, the thing is generally regarded 

 as impracticable. Poultry have been kept on the borders of a 

 wood abounding with Pheasants, and occasionally a few half- 

 bred birds are procured. Sir William Jardine had a specimen 

 of the cross in his possession, exhibiting all the mixed cha- 

 racters in perfection. M. Temminck also records a solitary in- 

 stance of a mule between the female common Pheasant and the 

 male Golden-Pheasant, which presented a curious but splendid 

 mixture; all his endeavours, however, to procure a second 



