76 VARIOUS WAYS OF TAKING PHEASANTS. 



it is advisable not to let them have more food at one 

 time than they can eat, because they are apt to toss it 

 about and lose a great deal of it. They must not be 

 without water, being of themselves dry birds, and subject 

 to contract dirt and fleas. The dove-cote should be 

 carefully cleaned once a week, if not more frequently. 



PART THE FOURTH. 



VARIOUS WAYS OF TAKING PHEASANTS. 



PHEASANTS are taken with nets, in crowing-time, which 

 is about the end of February, and in March, before they 

 begin to breed. It is done either generally or parti- 

 cularly; the first is, when the whole eye, viz., the old 

 cock and hen, with all their young ones, or pouts, as 

 they flock or run together in thick woods or coppices, 

 are taken ; or particularly, when none are taken but the 

 old, and such of the young as are of an age fit for 

 coupling ; so that you cannot have any assurance with 

 your nets to strike at more than one or two at a time ; 

 for pheasants are of a melancholy or sullen disposition, 

 and when once they have coupled, do not associate in 

 flocks, like other birds. 



In order to take pheasants with ease, you must be 

 acquainted with their haunts and usual breeding-places, 

 which are in young, thick, and well grown coppices, 

 free from the annoyance of cattle or pathways; for 

 being of a very timid nature, they do not abide or 



