148 LEWIS'S .AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



MIGRATIONS. 



Like the partridge and wild turkey, pheasants are said to per- 

 form partial migrations, from northwest to southeast, at the ap- 

 proach of winter ; but their excursions are neither so general nor 

 extensive as those of the partridge. Pheasants fly with great ease, 

 and do not hesitate to cross the widest rivers that obstruct their 

 way during the season of migration. Audubon, speaking of these 

 migrations, remarks that "no one who pays the least attention to 

 the manners and habits of our birds can fail to observe them." 



FLIGHT. 



This bird, like most others of the gallinaceous order, when dis- 

 turbed, flies with a loud whirring noise, even louder and more 

 startling than that made by the springing of a large covey of 

 partridges. They usually fly away in a direct line, and seldom or 

 never either cross the shooter or fly behind him. 



When not put to flight from fear or any other exciting cause, 

 they move off slowly and rather stiffly, flapping their wings for 

 a few seconds, and then sailing ahead. They seldom go farther 

 than a few hundred yards at a time. Audubon does not think 

 that any of the gallinaceous tribe, when moving through the air 

 perfectly free from excitement, necessarily make a whirring sound ; 

 but, on the contrary, supposes the noise is produced by the unusual 

 rapidity in the motion of the wings, owing to the over-anxiety of 

 the bird to escape the suspected danger. He also states that he 

 has observed pheasants, as well as partridges, rise and fly off of 



