10 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



usually a mirror reflecting the outer landscape. It is needless 

 to add the bird was killed instantaneously. Two hen pheasants 

 had on previous occasions been killed in the same way, but 

 the glass was not damaged." Mr. Gr. A. Hackett, of Pailton 

 House, Rugby, also wrote as follows : " I was much astonished 

 to-day, at about two o'clock, by hearing a loud crash of glass 

 in my smoking-room, and on going there I found a cock 

 pheasant dead on the floor close to the window, and the plate 

 of glass, which is 4ft. by 3ft. 6in., and Jin. thick, in thousands 

 of fragments. I am certain no blow from a man could have 

 in like manner demolished the glass. The pheasant was a 

 ring-necked, last year's bird, and weighed nearly 31b." These 

 instances occurred in the day-time. Sometimes the birds are 

 attracted by a light, as in the following cases : " On a very 

 rough night in January, a hen pheasant flew through the 

 hall window at Merfchyr Manor, Bridgend, attracted by a 

 light inside." And the following incident is related as 

 occurring in a village not far from Bangor, on the banks of a 

 river on the opposite side of which is a plantation well stocked 

 with pheasants : " One stormy night there sat in a room of a 

 small public, which had a window facing the plantation, six 

 or seven men enjoying their pipes and beer, when all of a 

 sudden crash went the window, out went the candle, and out 

 rushed the men in great consternation. On examining the 

 room a splendid cock pheasant was found under the table." 



The wings, considered with reference to the size and 

 weight of the bird, are short and small ; from the secondary 

 quills being nearly as long as the primary, they are very 

 rounded in form, the third and fourth primary feathers being 

 the longest. The wings are not adapted to a very prolonged 

 flight, although the denizens of the wilder districts in the 

 country fly with a speed and cover distances that are un- 

 known to the over-fattened birds in our preserves. Long 

 flights are, however, not altogether beyond the powers of the 

 bird. One of unusual length was recorded by the late 

 Mr. J. Cordeaux, of Ulceby, who states that "when 



