87 



" ' Sit feralis equi caro dulcis sub cruce Christi !' The bird was not so unclean as the horse 

 — the emblem of Paganism — was unholy." 



In the reign of Edward I. Pheasants were sold at eight pence per brace ; and I may remark 

 that, according to Mr. Robert Gray, the first mention made of the Pheasant in old Scots Acts is 

 in one dated 8th June 1594, in which, amongst other birds and beasts, the Pheasant is scheduled 

 as a protected species. 



In Great Britain the Pbeasant is found in most large preserves, from the extreme south up 

 to Sutherland and the Outer Hebrides. Mr. Robert Gray says (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 224) that 

 it is commonly distributed throughout the western counties, extending from Sutherland to the 

 shores of Wigtown. In the neighbourhood of Loch Lomond it is occasionally seen on the 

 mountain-sides as high as 1200 feet. It was introduced into Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, 

 by Sir James Matheson, and has become fairly established there. Other species have also been 

 introduced into Scotland, as for instance Phasianus versicolor and Phasianus reevesii ; and both 

 these have crossed with the present species, so that it is, as elsewhere, most difficult to find a 

 pure-blooded Phasianus colchicus. 



In Ireland, according to Thompson, the Pheasant " is common in various wooded parts of 

 the island, where it has been preserved and protected. This species being neither an indigenous 

 one, nor a visitant to Ireland in a wild state, but having certainly been introduced, is therefore 

 disentitled to receive the honours of ordinary type. The period of its introduction is unknown 

 to me; but in the year 1589 it was remarked to be common. Fynes Moeyson, who was in 

 Ireland from 1599 till 1603, observes that there are 'such plenty of Pheasants as I have known 

 sixty served up at one feast, and abound much more with Pails, but Partridges are somewhat 

 scarce.' — Vol. ii. p. 368. Smith seems to have imagined that Pheasants were indigenous to the 

 island, as in his 'History of Cork' it is remarked, ' they are now (1749) indeed very rare, most 

 of our woods being cut down.' " 



In Sweden and Norway the Pheasant is only found domesticated ; and it is known in Southern 

 Russia only, and not in Northern Russia or Poland. In North Germany it has become wild in 

 some few localities, but otherwise it is only met with in preserves ; and, according to Mr. Collin, 

 it is kept in a state of semidomestication at Kongelunden, on Amager, in Denmark. Naumann 

 says that it is now quite wild in several parts of Bohemia, on the Danube, the Rhine, and in the 

 lowlands of the Elbe, but that north of Central Germany it is found nowhere, unless preserved. 

 Dr. Rey informs me that it occurs here and there in an almost wild state in Saxony. According 

 to Baron Fallon it is acclimatized here and there in Belgium ; Mr. Labouchere informs me that 

 it thrives well in the drier portions of Holland ; and in France it is found in many preserves. I 

 do not find it recorded from Portugal or Spain ; and in Italy, Salvadori says, it is only to be met 

 with in a semidomesticated state, and never really wild ; and Mr. Jesse remarks that a few are 

 found on the east coast of Corsica. It is, however, wild in Greece ; but Dr. Kruper mentions 

 that it is now nearly extinct in the swamps of Acarnania, but is tolerably numerous in Olympus, 

 and is shot there annually. 



In winter it is not uncommon in Macedonia, but only in the plains. ' Lord Lilford writes 

 (Ibis, 1860, p. 237): — "The only localities in which I have myself seen Pheasants in these parts 

 were: — once on the Luro river, near Prevesa, in March 1857, on which occasion I only saw one, 

 the bird having never previously been met with in that part of the country ; and again in 



