TUK MANOH8.] 



in I'l i:i-l), WOOD, A.N 1) WA IKK. 



[tiii: ma no II 8. 



onhanced by some sauce piquanie, hia natural 

 insipidity is dissjuised ; ami tht-n, as INIonsieur 

 e'lievct obsiTvcs, of sonio of his fuvouriti' 

 comestibles, il se loissc manner. We have 

 seen him brought to table on many occasions 

 dressed au naturel, and witlidrawn without 

 di>cussioii. 11 o may, perhaps, liavo been 

 lasted, but no further honour was paid him. 



Kej^ardiiip: the pheasant, we must remark 

 that lie is well worthy of all the care and pro- 

 tection whieli can possibly be extended to him. 

 He is unlike the partridge in one respect, not 

 being attached to any particular spot of ground, 

 although he will remain in any suitable cover 

 when he can find sufficient food, and is free 

 from molestation ; but if he cannot find food, 

 and the soil does not produce it, and it is not 

 .supplied to him, he will take to his legs, and 

 search for it for miles till he finds it, and re- 

 main in his new quarters so long as he is un- 

 disturbed. AVhero partridges have once bred 

 they will breed for years, and very near the 

 same spot ; hence the policy of never killing 

 any covey entirely down. This is not the case 

 with pheasants, as the hens will remain to breed 

 in any cover to which they may have been 

 driven at the end of the season, provided it bo 

 a suitable one, and there be food ; hence the 

 necessity of always providing sufficient food as 

 an inducement to them to remain. But even 

 this will be ineffectual unless the covers be 

 kept perfectly quiet, as pheasants will not re- 

 main where they are constantly disturbed. Tlie 

 slightest movement in a cover sets them in 

 motion, running at their best pace, and not 

 stopping until they reach some thick place, 

 where they can conceal themselves. If the 

 cover is large, it may be occasionally disturbed 

 without much risk ; but if it is small, and thin 

 at bottom, they will run clean through it, and, 

 perhaps, continue their course for miles. The 

 best cover to keep pheasants in, is one of furze 

 and broom, as they can conceal themselves in 

 it ; and, if it be spacious, even a dog has some 

 difficulty in dislodging them. In an open 

 country where there are no natural covers, 

 this artificial cover of furze and broom will bo 

 found to be of the greatest advantage. It can 

 easily be got up in a few years ; and a few 

 rabbits turned into it, will be useful in making 

 runs through all the thick parts of it. It is 

 also undeniable for hares ; and, moreover, 



game of all sorts is easily protecteil in it, as a 

 poacher can only operate in and about such a 

 cover by daylight ; and therefore must bo seen 

 approacliing, if a good look-out bo kept. A 

 suwdl cover of this description, of about six 

 acres, adjoining a keeper's cottage, has been 

 known to hold several hundred pheasants. It 

 was surrounded by corn and turnip fields, and 

 some few jjlantations running up to it, into 

 which the pheasants strayed by day, returning 

 always at feeding-time, or in the event of their 

 being disturbed. 



If there be water handy, it will bo a groat 

 advantage, as pheasants cannot do well with- 

 out it. It must, therefore, in the event of 

 there being neither spring nor pond near, bo 

 supplied by artificial means — tanks, sunk in dif- 

 ferent places, which the keeper will take care to 

 fill regularly, will answer the purpose. Pheasants 

 require, more or less, feeding nearly all the 

 year round ; less in summer than in winter, and 

 but very slightly after the harvest. A little 

 food, however, occasionally at all seasons, keeps 

 them together, and prevents them from prowl- 

 ra.". Barley, oats, white peas, buckwheat, and 

 boiled potatoes, comprise what they are most 

 partial to. Of buckwheat they are especially 

 fond, a few acres of which will attract them, 

 and partridges also, from very long distances ; 

 consequently, this being known, its use in both 

 Suffolk and Norfolk is almost universal, not 

 only on the general principle of preserving, but 

 on that also of self-defence. 



The advantages of the furze and broom 

 covers, consists in their affording protection to 

 the pheasant by night as well as by day, as, 

 pheasants frequently jug in them, so that they 

 are out of the poacher's reach. But as, in this 

 case, they will be accessible to ground vermin, 

 the keeper must be very particular and vigi- 

 lant in this department of his business : the 

 weasel, stoat, polecat, and common cat, would 

 do infinite mischief in a preserve of this de- 

 scription. As the presence of these depredators, 

 however, is easily ascertained, and as they are 

 trapped without difficulty, the keeper must 

 have neglected his duty if more than an occa- 

 sional visitor is ever seen ; but he must always 

 be expected, as vermin are sure to be plentiiul 

 where game abounds. In all preserves it is a 

 good plan to have a few rabbits, as they ire- 

 quently save the lives of pheasants when any 



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