THE PHEASANT. SSI 



Several varieties. 



eyes in their coverts ; they will come to feed im- 

 mediately on hearing the keeper's whistle. They 

 will follow him in flocks ; and scarcely allow the 

 pease to run from his bag into the troughs placed 

 for the purpose, before they begin to eat. Those 

 that cannot find room at one trough, follow him 

 with the same familiarity to others. 



Pheasants are fouad in most parts of Eng- 

 land; but are not plentiful in the north; and 

 they are seldom seen in Scotland. Wood and 

 corn lands, seem necessary to their existence. 

 Were it not for the exertions of gentlemen of 

 property, in preserving these birds in their woods 

 from the attacks of sportsmen, it is more than 

 probable that in the course of a few years the 

 breed would be extinct. Formerly they were 

 very plentiful in Pendarvis, in Cornwall, but the 

 race here (as well as in other places) has been 

 long unknown. 



Of the pheasant tribe there are several vari- 

 eties, but they all preserve a superiority in the 

 beauty of their plumage. Some of them are 

 spotted all over with a wonderful degree of bril- 

 liancy, and are called peacock pheasants, while 

 others are ornamented with a beautiful crest. 

 The golden pheasant which is principally found 

 in China, is about the size of the English phea- 

 sant. The silver pheasant belongs to the eastern 

 climates, and is about the same size. The habits 

 .and customs of all these species are much tljQ 



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