4 PHEASANTS FOB COVERTS AND AVIARIES- 



months of the year. Amongst forest plants, it likes the seeds- 

 of the hemp-nettle {Galeopsis), and it also feeds on almost alL 

 the seeds that the farmer sows." 



To this long catalogue of its continental fare may be- 

 added the roots of the silver weed [Potentilla anserina), and 

 those of the pig-nut or earth-nut [Bunium flexuosum) , and the- 

 tubers of the common buttercups [Ranunculus bulbosus and 

 B. ficaria), which are often scratched out of the soil and eaten. 

 Macgillivray states that " One of the most remarkable facts: 

 relative to this bird that has come under my observation, was- 

 the presence of a very large quantity of the fronds of the 

 common polypody {Polypodium vulgao-e) in the crop of one- 

 which I opened in the winter of 1835. I am not aware that' 

 any species of fern has ever been found constituting parb of 

 the food of a ruminating quadruped or gallinaceous bird; and 

 if it should be found by experiment that the pheasant 

 thrives on such substances, advantage might be taken of the 

 circumstance." 



Thompson, in his "Natural History of Ireland," recounts 

 the different varieties of food he observed in opening the- 

 crops of ten pheasants — from November to April inclusive.. 

 In seven he discovered the fruit of the hawthorn, with grain,, 

 small seed?, and peas. In one no less than thirty-sevea 

 acorns. Another had its crop nearly filled with grass j only 

 one contained any insects, the period of examination being- 

 the colder months of the year ; in summer the pheasant is 

 decidedly insectivorous; all contained numerous fragments; 

 of stone. He also records that in the spring the yellow 

 flowers of the pilewort [Banunculus ficaria) are always eaten 

 in large quantity, as are the tuberous roots of the common 

 silver weed (Potentilla anserina), when they are turned up by 

 cultivation. Mr. Thompson adds : " While spending the 

 month of January, 1849, at the sporting quarters of 

 Ardimersy Cottage, Island of Islay, where- pheasants are 

 abundant, and attain a very large size — the ring-necked 

 variety, too, being common — I observed that these birds in. 



