246 SHORTER-BILLED RUNNir^G BIRDS. 



Nest. — On the ground, among grass, or under a 

 bramble or other low growth. 



The Pheasant is usually to be seen in ploughed, 

 stubble, and grass lands, between the clumps of 

 covert where it breeds and roosts, only the rounded 

 backs of the birds showing as they creep about feed- 

 ing, their long tails trailing behind them. If the 

 cock-bird looks up, there is no mistaking the dark 

 neck and scarlet face. When alarmed the birds 

 crouch among the grass or clods, worming their way 

 along until they make a final dash for cover. If 

 surprised well out in the open, they run swiftly 

 with a grand gliding motion ; but if put up, 

 they rise with loud outcry, ' Orrk ! orrk ! ' and fly 

 laboriously with violently whirring wings. Though 

 the Pheasant is essentially a gromid-bird, it perches 

 on a branch of a tree to roost, its loud ' Orrle ! ' re- 

 sounding through the covert ere the bird settles down 

 for the night. The eggs are placed on the ground in 

 a hollow in low growth, and usually under shelter of 

 hedgerow or bush. There is no other bird of the 

 size of the Pheasant with its somewhat Peacock-like 

 shape and long, pointed tail. 



COMMON PARTRIDGE.— Plate 106. 12i inches. 

 Head and nape grayish-brown ; throat and fore-neck 

 chestnut ; upper parts brownish-buff, much obscured 

 by a system of fine black cross-lines ; breast gray, 

 also finely lined with black ; large chestnut horse- 

 shoe patch on the lower breast of the male ; flanks 

 broadly banded with chestnut ; remaining under parts 

 whitish ; legs horn-colour. Resident. 



