THE PHEASANT. 187 



For, without some attention is given to this matter by the people 

 generally, we may soon expect to find our whole Atlantic 

 board entirely destitute of game of every description. 



INCUBATION. 



The Pheasant begins pairing in March and April, and the 

 nest is finished in the course of two or three weeks. The most 

 solitary situations are selected for incubation, and the nest itself 

 is formed even more rudely than that of the Partridge, but of 

 pretty much the same material, and generally at the base of a 

 small bush, tree, or old stump. The Hen generally drops from 

 five to twelve eggs, of a dull-yellowish color, without spots, and 

 nearly the size of those of a Polish Chicken. The nest, not- 

 withstanding the secrecy of its situation, is often plundered 

 during the absence of the Hen, by the Crow, Eaven, and other 

 cruel enemies, that are constantly on the watch to seize upon 

 such delicacies as it contains. In this case, the Hen is very apt 

 to court again the society of the Cock Birds, form a new nest, 

 and go to laying a second time ; which, as in the Partridge, has 

 given rise to the idea of two broods in a season. The young- 

 leave the nest almost as soon as hatched, and follow the mother 

 in quest of food ; if surprised during these perambulations, 

 they skulk in the grass as young Partridges do, while the Hen 

 resorts to the same artifices to allure the Sportsman away from 

 the vicinity of her tender offspring. Wilson mentions that on 

 one occasion, having accidentally come upon a Hen Pheasant in 

 company with her brood, she flew up, evidently much alarmed, 

 and fluttered for a few moments before him, and then darted 

 down and seized one of the young in her bill and bore it off 

 to a place of safety, leaving him, of course, greatly surprised 

 at the extraordinary incident. 



The young Birds are sufficiently strong and well grown to 

 fly a short distance in the course of a very few days. The 

 Cock Bird does not assist the mother in the care of the brood, 

 but associate themselves together in small bands till the au- 

 tumn, or rather the commencement of cold weather, when they 

 all again mingle indiscriminately together, young and old. 



