198 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



not be. Here these birds (as is the case when turned down 

 on any ordinary English preserve) have formed most un- 

 desirable habits. It is with great difficulty they can be got 

 to rise at all, and when this is effected they keep low, and 

 afford no sport whatever. Now, at Guisachan all this is 

 obviated by the rough nature of the ground. There is heavy 

 bracken, fallen trees, mountain burns, and, above all, rough 

 heather. These cause the birds to get up almost at once. 

 The trees being high and dense assist their elevation, and 

 force them to a respectable height from the very start. 



"In conclusion I should like to make one observation on 

 the flight of Reeves' s pheasant which I have never seen touched 

 on before, and which is both interesting and remarkable. 

 Reeves's pheasant has the power to stop suddenly when 

 travelling at its full speed, which may be estimated at nearly 

 double that of an ordinary pheasant ; and this is performed 

 by an extraordinary movement when the bird makes up its 

 mind to alight on some high tree that has taken its fancy. 

 This bird may be said to be furnished with a ' Westinghouse 

 brake ' in the shape of its tail, otherwise the feat would be 

 impossible. By a sudden and complete turn of the body, 

 both the expanded wings and tail are presented as a resistance 

 to the air and the position of the bird is reversed. This acts 

 as an immediate buffer and brake, and by this means the bird 

 is enabled to drop head downwards into the tree within the 

 short space of eight or ten yards. This is such a very remark- 

 able movement, and one which of necessity requires some 

 illustrative explanation, that I send you herewith a sketch of 

 it, which may be of interest/' 



Lord Ravensworth, writing of the birds in Ross-shire, 

 makes the following remarks on the habits of this species : 



" The Bar-tail is a true pheasant, well able to take care of 

 himself in any climate, at any altitude, and is more easily 

 reared than the common species. He is very shy and wild, 

 difficult to approach, and takes to his legs long before other 

 pheasants are conscious of any danger. His flight is pro- 



