FORMATION OF COVERTS. 



spruce, either aloiio or blended with silver tii's, aud mixinq-, or 

 not, a few deciduous trees with them, for the special ])nrpose 

 of f(_)ruiing pheasant roosts, have ever been s(j fullv and 

 perspicuously set forth as exiilained in the previous article. 

 I couhl quote an instance of extensive coverts having been 

 ]ilantecl on a similar principle, sav'o that oaks wei'e planted in 

 lieu of liirch, with the ultimate view of affording t]H;'se birds 

 the opportunity of preening their |)lumes whilst perched on 

 the topmost boughs, aud enjoying themselves in this secluded 

 retreat dui-ing bright weather, to which luxur}-, under such 

 circumstances, they are very partial, in these cases the 

 (Spanish chesnut tree might souietiuies perha|)s be found an 

 eligible substitute for either the birch or the (lak. The larch 

 undoubtedly is a favourite roosting tree witli the pheasant, so 

 much so indeed that I have seen odd ones roustinu- in larclies 

 growing within a few yards only of the impeueti'alde spruce 

 grove. Besichis being horizontal, the branches of the larch 

 are roughs affording good fuothold^ and when the tree is 

 properly grown are but at short distances one above the 

 other, whilst, the collaterals being numenjus, the tree in 

 reality affords far more shelter than it apjiears cajiable of 

 "\'ielding, though, of course, far too little lo conceal the liird 

 from the prying eye of the night poacher. J^heasauts are 

 remarkably fond of ' hips' ; and if the wild rose ti'ce which 

 produces them be ke])t low by a proper attention to pruning, 

 not only can the birds reach the fruit easily, but the l^ranches 

 stool out and afford admirable covert. Cock pheasants are 

 naturally of a vagrant turn, and at tinu.'s will 'leave their 

 beans aud barley,' in order to indulge iu this their favourite 

 jjropensity to rove iu search of their natural wdd food in the 

 woodlands, hedgerows, &c. Early iu December last 1 received 

 a brace of reuiarkably fine young cock pheasants shot ou a 

 manor where the best artificial food is al>undantly provided, 

 yet the crop of one of them C(jntained ten full-sized acoi'ns. 

 Apart, toO;, from their utility as being by far the waianest, 

 most sheltered, and the ouiy thoroughly poacht-r-proof night 



E -2 



