140 THE SHOOTER'S GUO>E. 



inches long ; the legs, the feet, and the toes, are of 

 the colour of horn : there are black spurs on the 

 legs, shorter than those of the common farm-yard 

 cock, and a membrane that connects two of the toes 

 together ; the female is not near so beautiful as the 

 male. 



If we except the peacock, the pheasant is perhaps 

 the most beautiful of all the feathered tribe, as well 

 for the vivid colour of its plumes, as for their happy 

 mixture and variety. It is far beyond the power of 

 the pencil to draw any thing so glossy, so bright, or 

 points so finely blending into each other. And, 

 though so beautiful to the eye, this bird is not less 

 delicate when served up to table. Its flesh is con- 

 sidered as the greatest dainty j and when the physi- 

 cians of old spoke of the wholesomeness of any viand?, 

 they made their comparison with the flesh of the 

 pheasant 



This bird, though taken from its native warm re- 

 treats, where the woods supply variety of food, and 

 the warm sun suits its tender constitution, has still 

 continued its attachment to native freedom ; and, as 

 if disdaining the protection of man, has left him, to 

 take shelter in the remotest forests, where it feeds 

 upon acorns, and the scanty produce of our chill- 

 ing climate. Great pains, however, are taken by 

 the owners of parks and manors, for the preservation 

 of this beautiful bird ; but, notwithstanding all 

 precaution, they frequently stray from preserved 

 covers never to return; to say nothing of the do 



