FEEDING IN COVERTS. 63 



poachers by means of a fish hook baited with a raisin and 

 suspended about the height of a running bird's head from the 

 ground. 



The following vignette shows the extraordinary manner in 

 which wounded and malformed pheasants adapt themselves to 

 new conditions of life. It represents most accurately the head 

 of a ring-necked pheasant that was killed by Mr. Godwin on 

 Lord Torrington's estate. The bird was in very fair condition, 

 weighing 21b. 5oz., and had thirty-three beech nuts in its 

 crop. Both mandibles had been cut off in front of the nostrils, 

 most probably by a strong steel trap, the tongue, however, 

 had escaped, and protruded from the mouth. It is difficult to 

 imagine that the bird had the power of taking up small 

 grains, and it is not surprising that it fed mainly on beech 

 nuts, which it could readily take into its mouth. 



