THE PHEASANT, 



145 



A 



MEMORANDA. 



1. The Rufied Grouse, or, as we have consented to call it, the 

 Pheasant, is found in all the wild and mountainous districts of 

 our country, from the most northern latitudes as far south as 

 Georgia. 



2. They are called Partridge in the Eastern, Pheasant in the 

 Middle, and Grouse in the Southern States. There are no 

 Pheasants, properly speaking, in America. 



3. These Birds commence pairing in March and April. The 

 nest usually contains from five to twelve eggs. 



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 se- 

 duces her from her nest, by making a peculiar noise, termed 

 Drumming. 



6. At the Drumming season they are very pugnacious, and 

 frequent battles take place among the males at this time. 



7. The prevalent opinion that the flesh of the Pheasant be- 

 comes 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, 

 whortleberries, &c., in fact, all kinds of fruit ; their flesh is 

 white, and far more delicate than that of the Prairie Hen. 



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