2IO THE PHEASANT : 



guns were unknown in Shakespeare's day, for the old- 

 fashioned " birding-piece " was then in use, as we have 

 already noticed.* But, partly in consequence of its 

 inferiority and cost, and partly because its use was so 

 little understood, the majority of folks preferred to carry 

 a weapon with which they were more skilled, and on 

 which they could consequently place more reliance. 

 Gradually, as the fowling-piece became more and more 

 perfect, the long-bow and cross-bow were laid aside, and 

 hawking became almost forgotten. 



Notwithstanding that the Pheasant (PJiasianus colchicns) 

 must have been well-known in Shakespeare's day, the poet 

 has only once made mention of this bird. The passage 

 occurs in The Winter s Tale, Act iv. Sc. 3, and runs thus : 



" Shepherd. My business, sir, is to the king. 



Autolycus. What advocate hast thou to him ? 



Shepherd. I know not, an 't like you. 



Clown (jokingly aside to Shepherd}. Advocate 's the 

 court -word for a pheasant : say you have none. 



Shepherd. None, sir ; I have no pheasant, cock nor hen. 



Autolycus. How blessed are we that are not simple 

 men ! " 



The precise date of the introduction of the pheasant 

 into Great Britain is uncertain, but there is evidence to 

 show that it was prior to the invasion of the Normans, 



* See end of Chapter V. 



