10 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



usually a mirror reflecting the outer landscape. It is needless- 

 to say 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. G. A. Hackett, of Pailton 

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

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

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

 pheasant dead on the floor close to the Avindow, 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 olb." 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 Merthyr Manor, Bridgend, attracted by a 

 light inside." And the following incident is related as 

 occurring iu 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 aud 

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

 quills being nearly as long as the pi-imary, 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- 

 l)ii'd. One of unusual length was recorded by the late 

 jMr. J. Cordeaux, of Ulceby, who states that " wlieib 



