PHEASANTS.] 



BY FIKLD, A\'C)OD, AND WATER, [piieabant buootiko. 



and if larch trees grow in the wood, to theso 

 he resorts, knowing?, by oxporionce, tlint tho 

 plicasant j^rofers tliia kiiul of trco to any 

 otlior." Aiulthon^ 



— " What avails his plossy, varying dyes, 

 His jnirplM crest, ami scarlet circlM eyes, 

 The vivid i;reen his shiiiiiiij jilumes unfolil, 

 His paiiUeJ wings, and breast that tlamcs with gold !" 



Phcnsanta are eubjoct to considerablo 

 cliani^cs ; one of which is, tliat in certain case?, 

 and in certain years, tho female bird assumes 

 the appearance of the male. This curious fact 

 iiuluccd Dr. John Hunter to niako a scries 

 of experiments, with a view of ascertaining 

 whether there was in reality any transfer of 

 (render accompanied by this change of plumage 

 and outward appearance. But ho found no 

 organic change whatever in the generative 

 organs. The diseases to which the pheasant is 

 subject are but little understood. It is said 

 that they die oft" suddenly about the time they arc 

 being denuded of their crest and tail feathers, 

 without any apparent illnecs, having an abun- 

 dance of food, of which ants and their eggs 

 form a part. Good air, exercise, and even 

 choice grass plots, will not arrest the ravages 

 of the complaint. It has been recommended, 

 bv way of cure, tliat, as in Asiatic countries, of 

 which the bird is a native, it lives very much 

 on aromatic plants, all remedial measures 

 should take this circumstance into considera- 

 tion. Spices and stimulants are recommended, 

 with nutritious diet, chopped eggs, and shred 

 beef. Pepper pods, and other aromatics, are 

 likewise used, in small quantities. In spite, 

 h.owever, of all care, great mortality sometimes 

 prevails among tho pheasants of particular 

 localities. 



PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



On the 1st of October — which is an inter- 

 esting day to aristocratic sportsmen, with their 

 well-trained dogs — pheasant shooting begins ; 

 and there are a variety of opinions among 

 sportsmen as to the ease with which this spe- 

 cies of bird may be shot ; some averring that it 

 is difficult to bring it down ; whilst others 

 hold that there is no difficulty whatever. 

 Much, however, depends upon the tempera- 

 ment or nervous system of the shooter, his 

 experience, and his practice. 



The noise which a pheasant makes when it 



takes wing — tho whirr with whirli it rushes 

 through tho leaves, sends a inuuieiitury thrill 

 through tho framo of soino moii, (juito huIIi- 

 cient to shako tiicir Hteadinesa of aim, and 

 send their shot nowhere, after it has been 

 ejected from tlio muzzlo of tho gun. Steadi- 

 ness is tho great matter in exploits of this 

 kind ; it determines tho relative portion of 

 skill which a man throws into such pursuits. 



Tho spaniel is much recommended for phea- 

 sant shooting; and Mr. Daniel considered any 

 otlier kind of dog out of place when this 

 sort of gamo was tho object of pursuit. 

 "Spaniels," says this authority, "for phea- 

 sant or cock shooting cannot be too strong, 

 too short upon tho legs, or have too much 

 courage; the thickness of tho coverts will 

 oppose, and, sometimes, almost overpower 

 even this combination of form and spirit. 

 * * * Should the woods be very extensive 

 when spaniels are steady from hares, they 

 cannot well bo too numerous ; but if given to 

 hunt hares, they disturb the pheasants. Upon 

 no account accept or keep a spaniel — it is 

 needless to tell a sportsman not to Ireed from 

 such— which has any taint of tho hound in his 

 pedigree, although for generations back ; they 

 will be sure to hunt bare in preference to 

 winged game ; and the stock may be crossed 

 everlastingly, may attain beauty, strength, 

 symmetry, yet this latent spark of the harrier 

 will never be extinguished." Some shooters 

 use beagles in pheasant shooting with good 

 effect ; and even terriers arc employed in sorao 

 districts. But much depends on locality. In 

 thick hedge-rows, young woods, furze planta- 

 tions, and entangled underwood of any kind. 

 such dogs as the beaglo and terrier may bo 

 better suited for pheasant sporting than tho 

 spaniel; but where the grounds are com- 

 paratively open, the latter are to be pre- 

 ferred. 



For pheasant shooting tho sportsman should 

 be early in the field, and he should scour tho 

 stubbles of wheat, barley, and bean fields well. 

 In very bright days, the woods should be care- 

 fully explored, for the birds often betake them- 

 selves to them in such weather. Cover beat- 

 ing is very essential, and the grounds should 

 bo thoroughly tried both with the dogs and 

 the beaters. A nye of pheasants are often 

 found huddled together within a very small 



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