FORMATION OF COVERTS. 49 



coverts for these timid birds, which at roostiTig time usually 

 court the densest sylvan shade — these evergreen groves 

 possess the signal advantage of harmonising well with, and 

 adding singular beauty to, the surrounding scenery ; whilst 

 the internal gloom — lucus a non lucendo — pervading them, 

 has also its own peculiar charms, though it be of a sombre 

 character/' 



It may be remai-ked that evergreen night coverts are not 

 so essential south of the Trent, owing to the vigorous growth 

 of underwood in the southern counties, which renders it 

 almost impossible for poachers to traverse the coverts by 

 night, even during bright moonlight ; so that pheasants 

 roosting on deciduous trees are much safer than they would 

 be in the north, where underwood is comparatively feeble and 

 scanty. 



Writing to me on this subject, Mr. Carr Ellison added : 

 " In the extreme north of England, and in Scotland, under- 

 wood of bramble grows feebly, except along Avarni southerly 

 slopes. Nevertheless nature introduces another covert plant 

 of great value, which fears neither cold shade, nor open and 

 windy exposure — namely, the native tussock grass of moor- 

 edges and upland pastures, Aira ccespitosa, popularly called 

 'hull-fronts' of which most of our exposed woodlands are 

 full. It is easily transplanted, or propagated by seed, on 

 which latter both pheasants and black game feed. It is a 

 favourite covert for hares, affording perfect protection from 

 the cold winds that sweep through plantations destitute of 

 underwood, like too many in the north. 



"Yet these apparently unpromising strips or clumps of 

 bare stems are often frequented by fine broods of self -reared 

 pheasants, thanks to the bull-fronts and bracken." 



If it be desired to see the pheasants in the neighbourhood 

 of the mansion, it should be borne in mind that the shrub- 

 beries of rhododendron so frequently seen skirting lawns and 

 pleasure grounds are not frequented by pheasants like those 

 of yew, holly, and privet, chiefly because no fallen berries are 



