PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



fall, and the nights are sufficiently light to render the birds 

 conspicuous objects on the branches of the trees. It is an 

 indisputable fact that branches radiating horizontally afford 

 the best foothold for Pheasants, consequently such are the 

 most likely to be used as roosting-places ; hence the reason 

 why the Larch -tree is so often used for this purpose. 

 Nevertheless, Larch-trees in a covert do more towards the 

 encouragement of poaching than any other British trees. 

 One of the prime factors in covert formation is density of 

 growth above and below, and this is the reason why many 

 young coverts of Scotch Firs will afford much better protec- 

 tion and safety than an old-established and extensive covert 

 formed principally of Larch-trees. Moreover, Pheasants, 

 during severe weather, like to seek the seclusion of sheltered 

 positions, which is well afforded by such trees as the Scotch 

 Fir, the Silver Fir, the Spruce, the Yew, the Beech, all of 

 which, excepting the Beech, have persistent or green leaves 

 throughout the winter, whilst the dead leaves of the Beech 

 remain attached to the parent plant for a variable period 

 during the latter season, thus affording both protection and 

 shelter. This persistency of the withered leaves only exists up 

 to about fifteen years. The Beech hedge, likewise that of the 

 Yew and the Holly, constitutes one of the best natural pro- 

 tections it is possible to have around a covert, and birds are 

 not slow to take advantage of this fact, especially where there 

 is a dense undergrowth of other vegetation. 



The oldest species of Beech indigenous to England, 

 which has also been introduced into Scotland and Ireland, is 

 the common Beech {Fagus Sylvatica). This is a tall tree, 

 with a smooth trunk and dense foliage, the latter throwing an 

 intense shade on the soil beneath, thus destroying all other 

 growth under its shade. When grown thickly together, the 

 Beeches develop long straight trunks, and a thick mass of 



14 



