FEEDING IN COVERTS. 



03 



poacluTs l)y means of a Hsli hnnk Ixiiti'il witli <i raisin and 

 suspenile'd about tln^ height of a running- Ini-d's head fi'oni tlie 

 ground. 



The f(_)Uowing vignette sliows tlie extranrdina.ry manner in 

 whicli wiinn(h'd and malformed ])heasauts ada,])t themselves tn 

 new e(nnIitions of life. It represeids must aecurately the head 

 of a ring-ncoked jdieasaiit that "was kilh^l Ijy ^\r. Gi.i(l\vin on 

 Lord Torrington's I'state. Tlie bird was in very fair conditiuu, 

 weighing 21b. ooz., am] had fhirty-three beech nuts in its 

 ■crop. Both mandibles had been cut ofT in fr(jnt (.)t' tlie nostrils, 

 most probal)ly by a strong steel trap, the tungue, leiwever, 

 had escajied, and pmti'uded frtmi the mouth. It is dilticultto 

 imagine that, the bird hiid the power of taking up small 

 grains, and it is mjt surprising that it led mainly on beech 

 nuts, which it could readil\' take into its mouth. 



