PHEASANT. 179 



common now throughout this country, as also pretty generally 

 in Ireland; and in Scotland occurs even so far north as 

 Sutherlandshire. 



The favourite resorts of Pheasants are woods wherever 

 situated, and whether larger or smaller, and thick plantations, 

 especially if near rivers and marshy places, osier beds, and 

 islands overrun with tangled vegetation, long grass, rushes, 

 reeds, and brambles, and at times they resort to hedgerows. 

 Their large size and conspicuous appearance render them an 

 easy prey to prowling marauders on many a 'shiny night at 

 the season of the year,' and their value for the table furnishes 

 a strong incentive to take them, even if the natural instinct 

 of the chase did not sufficiently provide it. The paths that 

 they form in thickets, invite the treacherous snare, the air-gun 

 can easily reach them on their visible roost, or even a noose 

 at the end of a pole; should they fly, the difficulty is to miss 

 them with a gun; and should any of these means not be 

 resorted to, a villainous sulphur match will bring them down. 



In the winter the males generally keep by themselves, and 

 in spring, about March, again choose a domain and haunt of 

 their own, strutting, crowing, and clapping their wings to the 

 admiration of the females. The former are as they have need 

 to be, more wary than the latter. One has been known in 

 defence of his wives to attack and drive off a cat, which was 

 accidentally approaching. Of another it is related by the Rev. 

 Leonard Jenyns, that it was so bold and fierce, that it 'was 

 accustomed to make frequent sallies upon persons passing near 

 the place of its resort. I saw it myself fly boldly at the 

 proprietor of the grounds, who purposely approached the spot, 

 in order that I might witness the extent of its courage and 

 ferocity; it commenced pecking his legs, and striking with its 

 wings, pursuing him for a considerable distance down one of 

 the walks. Some wood-cutters, who were at work close by, 

 were in the habit of protecting their legs with strong leather 

 gaiters from the attacks of this bird, which was constantly 

 interrupting and annoying them in this manner.' Of another 

 it is recorded that having roosted in the neighbourhood of a 

 farm-yard, where game fowls were kept, it killed three cocks 

 in succession, but was slain by a fourth, which the owner armed 

 with spurs for protection. Another went into a farm-yard, 

 and for several months kept company with the hens there, 

 making his appearance at daybreak, and retiring into the woods 

 to roost at night. 



