34 PHEASANTS FOR COVERTS AND AVIARIES. 



all parts of the kingdom where there is congenial shelter and 

 some slight attempt at preservation and protection, without 

 which it would soon be extirpated bj^ poachers and its 

 numerous natural enemies. 



It is abundant even in the most populous counties, and is 

 not at all uncommon in the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 metropolis ; but it is in the well- wooded and highly preserved 

 districts of England that these birds most abound, and where 

 they are excessively numerous. " The pheasant/^ writes Mr. 

 Sterland, in his '' Birds of Sherwood Forest/^ " abounds on all 

 the estates in the forest district, and to such an extent that 

 few would credit the immense numbers. They are almost as 

 tame as barndoor fowls, and may be seen on the skirts of the 

 various plantations. Carefully tended and fed, and all their 

 natural enemies destroyed, they become so accustomed to the 

 presence of man that in many parts they will hardly take the 

 trouble to get out of the way, and are scarcely entitled to the 

 appellation of wild. Under circumstances so favourable they 

 multiply rapidly, but a natural limit seems to be set to their 

 increase, and frequently, where they are most abundant, large 

 numbers are found dead without apparent cause ; these are 

 always exceedingly fat and their plumage in the glossiest 

 condition ; they seem to drop down and die without a struggle, 

 I have had them brought to me in this state, and have found 

 their flesh plump and of good colour, and every feather 

 smooth and perfect.'" I should rather incline to attribute 

 the death in these cases to apoplexy, arising from over-feed- 

 ing on maize and stimulating artificial food, than to any 

 epidemic disease arising from overcrowding, as this attacks 

 the young and destro3^s them long before they arrive at 

 maturity. 



" In Norfolk,'' writes Mr. Stevenson, in his admirable 

 work on the birds of that country, " there are many portions 

 where the pheasant exists in a perfectly wild state, and 

 thrives well under the protection of the game laws, both soil 

 and climate being alike favourable. It is in such districts. 



