186 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



FLIGHT OF THE PHEASANT. 



]HE Pheasant is a strong and powerful bird on the 

 wing there are few birds that can equal them in 

 rapidity of flight. On being disturbed the Pheasant 

 rises from the ground with strong wing, and tremen- 

 dous whirring noise, and flies off with the greatest ease, 

 and with wonderful rapidity, through the thickest woods. 

 There is much variation in the flight of Pheasants some- 

 times they will mount almost perpendicularly into the ail- 

 before flying off; at others they will rise and fly off just 

 above the laurels or along within four or five feet of the 

 ground ; at others they will rise and fly, skimming along 

 close to the ground, then slyly disappearing from view. 

 Pheasants generally fly straight off in a bee-line, but before 

 settling they usually take a turn to the right or left, sweep 

 around and alight. The flight of Pheasants varies greatly 

 in regard to distance. During the first of the shooting 

 season, when the birds are young and tame, and the trees 

 and bushes are full of leaves, the flight of Pheasants is 

 about equal in distance to that of the Partridge (Ortyx); 

 but as the season advances and the trees become leafless, 

 their flight is much longer, particularly if they have been 

 much disturbed ; should this be the case, they spring in 

 greater terror, and usually fly out of sight before they 

 alight. Pheasants generally fly with the wind, and when 

 the wind is blowing a gale, they fly like a streak of light- 

 ning, especially the old ones, and in order to bring them 

 down, the shooter must be alert and quick in handling the 

 gun. or they will not be stopped they will soon get out 

 of sight, or killing range of the shot. Their movements 

 are very quick when they spring, and in a gale, unless the 

 shooter has a keen, quick eye, they will fly twenty feet be- 



