10 PHEASANTS FOB COVEBTS AND AVIABIES. 



usually a mirror reflecting the outer landscape. It is needless- 

 to say the bird was killed instantaneously. Two hen pheasants- 

 had on previous occasions been killed in the same way, but 

 the glass was not damaged." Mr. Gr. A. Hackett, of Pailton 

 House, Eugby, also wrote as follows: "I was much astonished 

 to-day, at about two o'clock, by hearing a loud crash of glass- 

 in my smoking-room, and on going there I found a cock 

 pheasant dead on the floor close to the window, and the plate- 

 of glass, which is 4ft. by 3ft. 6in., and Jin. thick, in thousands- 

 of fragments. I am certain no blow from a man could have- 

 in like manner demolished the glass. The pheasant was a 

 ring-necked, last year's bird, and weighed nearly 31b." These- 

 instances occurred in the day-time. Sometimes the birds are- 

 attracted by a lightj as in the following cases : " On a very 

 rough night in January, a hen pheasant flew through the- 

 hall window at Merthyr Manor, Bridgend, attracted by a 

 light inside." And the following incident is related as- 

 occurring in a village not far from Bangor, on the banks of a 

 river on the opposite side of which is a plantation well stocked 

 with pheasants : " One stormy night there sat in a room of a 

 small public, which had a window facing the plantation, six 

 or seven men enjoying their pipes and beer, when all of a 

 sudden crash went the window, out went the candle, and out 

 rushed the men in great consternation. On examining the 

 room a splendid cock pheasant was found under the table." 



The wings, considered with reference to the size and 

 weight of the bird, are short and small ; from the secondary 

 quills being nearly as long as the primary, they are very 

 rounded in form, the third and fourth primary feathers being- 

 the longest. The wings are not adapted to a very prolonged 

 flight, although the denizens of the wilder districts in the- 

 country fly with a speed and cover distances that are un- 

 known to the over-fattened birds in our preserves. Long 

 flights are, however, not altogether beyond the powers of the- 

 bird. One of unusual length was recorded by the late 

 Mr. J. Cordeaux, of Ulceby, who states that " when 



