THE PHEASANT. 155 



4. The cock pheasant is not faithful to one mate alone ; neither 

 does he assist in incubation, or in the care of the brood. They 

 associate together in small bands till the young are full-grown, 

 when they all pack indiscriminately together. 



5. The cock bird attracts the attention of the hen, and allures 

 her from her nest, by making a peculiar noise, termed drumming. 



6. At the drumming season they are very pugnacious, and fre- 

 quent battles take place among the males at this time. 



7. The prevalent opinion that the flesh of the pheasant becomes 

 poisonous by partaking of the leaves and berries of the mountain- 

 laurel is all fallacious, and may without hesitation be classed 

 among the list of vulgar errors. 



8. Pheasants are partial to wild strawberries, dewberries, whortle- 

 berries, &c. in fact, all kinds of fruit : their flesh is white, and 

 far more delicate than that of the prairie-hen. 



