160 PHEASANTS 



have now received, and pass on to matters 

 more directly connected with shooting. 

 Woods — in their restricted sense of game- 

 coverts — have still a dual function to 

 fulfil, the maintenance and production of 

 the pheasant. By maintenance we would 

 imply all that goes to keep that arrant 

 tramp — ^the pheasant — contentedly living 

 at home in the numbers ordained by the 

 powers that be ; by production, such 

 arrangement and distribution of coverts 

 as shall admit of the maximum number 

 of birds being collected and put over the 

 guns at the height that the perfection of 

 modern firearms has made essential to 

 any pleasure in the sport, with the 

 minimum trouble, expense and chance of 

 failure. 



The pheasant must naturally have the 

 first say in the matter, since all else can 

 only depend on his being found at home 

 when wanted to join in the sport ; and 

 should his lodging not be to his liking, he 

 is quite willing, when rough weather 

 comes, to take the road in search of 



