PuEasant. GALLINA. PHASIANUS. 301 
paid to their preservation.—It would appear, indeed, that 
the northern parts of the kingdom are particularly suitable 
to them, as they are making considerable progression, and 
have, within a comparatively short space of time, spread 
themselves over the whole county of Northumberland. In 
this district the ring-necked variety is most prevalent, and 
has nearly superseded the common kind.—The principal food Food. 
of the Pheasant in the winter months is grain and seeds, but 
m spring and summer it lives more upon roots and insects. 
T have observed that the root of the Bulbous Crowfoot (Ra- 
nunculus bulbosus), a common but acrid meadow plant, is 
particularly sought after by this bird, and forms a great por- 
tion of its food during the months of May and June. ‘The 
root of the garden tulip is also an article of diet, which it 
omits no opportunity of obtaining, and which, by means of 
its bill and feet, it is almost certain te reach, however deep it 
may be buried. 
The Pheasant, like most of the gallinaceous tribe, is very 
liable (especially in a state of confinement) to the disease Disease. 
called the Gapes (provincially, in Northumberland, the Naz), 
so destructive to. broods of chickens and young turkeys 
in particular situations. It is‘ occasioned by an intestinal 
worm of the genus Fasciola (the Fasciola Trachea of Mon- 
racu), which, lodging in the trachea, adheres by a kind of 
sucker to its internal membrane, and causes death by suffo- 
eation from the inflamed state of the part. Many recipes 
for the cure of this fatal malady have been suggested, 
but none of them seem to be effectual, except the one re- 
commended by Monracu*, viz. fumigation by tobacco, Cure: 
found to be an infallible specific, when administered with due 
care and attention. 
In the wild state, as well as under confinement, the female 
* See Supplement to Ornith. Dict. article Pheasant, where will be 
found some interesting particulars respecting this disease, and also the . 
ehange of plumage to which the females of the gallinaceous order are sub- 
ject. 
