PHEASANT COVERTS 



walks, but, we believe, invariably runs from the cover to 

 the place where it is accustomed to feed. It habitually 

 frequents the same cover and feeding ground, leads to the 

 formation of narrow runs or paths which, to the practised 

 eye, tell with certainty the number and kind of game to be 

 expected. It is mentioned in Thomson's Natural History of 

 Ireland, that in that country, Pheasants are frequently found 

 during the summer and autumn months in the potato fields. 

 During the autumn, winter and early spring months the 

 Pheasant perches in trees when it roosts, but from the 

 beginning of April till the middle or end of September, 

 its roosting-place is among the long and coarse grass and 

 sedge of its favourite cover. On withdrawing from the 

 trees as roosting-places in the spring, the hen bird is the first 

 to set the example ; but the cock Pheasant does not abandon 

 his tree for several weeks later. When, however, they have 

 taken to the ground, they do not again use the trees at 

 night, unless something has occurred to disturb them. 

 During the winter single individuals will frequently leave 

 the coverts and, if not molested, will remain for a consider- 

 able time at a distance from their natural haunt, and during 

 this period, they usually roost in hedges, or thick grass or 

 stubble, seldom resorting to trees as roosting-places. These 

 stragglers are the exceptions ; as a common rule. Pheasants 

 will be found in winter roosting in trees, and generally 

 somewhat in company — where one is found, others may be 

 expected at no great distance. The tree preferred by the 

 Pheasant for its nocturnal resting-place is the Larch Fir, 

 when attainable, and this probably arises from the peculiar 

 growth of the tree, in which the branches are nearly at 

 right angles to the trunk. Their preference for these 

 trees, which are denuded of their leaves in the winter, 

 gives additional facilities for the poacher in their destruction, 



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