68 



PHASIAN1DJE. 



about in search of the hen birds, and now and then its hoarse 

 crow or croak is heard, which resembles that of the half- 

 grown domestic cock. The hen bird is very silent, and only 

 utters the word tshee when startled on the wing. The young 

 cock Pheasants crow in autumn early in the morning or late 

 at night, which occasions the death of them very frequently, 

 as they are sure to be found out by the experienced sports- 

 man. 



The favourite haunt of Pheasants is copse-wood, inter- 

 mixed with large trees ; and long thick grasses and ferns are 

 very requisite for their shelter during the day. If such 

 a copse-wood is surrounded by well-cultivated, rich land, the 

 birds will thrive and multiply very fast. The food of the 

 Pheasant consists in corn, seeds of almost all kinds, green 

 vegetables, worms, insects, according to the season of the 

 year, and berries of almost every sort, except those of the night- 

 shade. The seeds of the sun- flower and buck- wheat are 

 among the most prized ; and, as before mentioned, raisins as 

 well as grapes. If the Pheasant finds its way into a kitchen- 

 garden, the hearts of the best cabbages, carrots, turnips, and 

 potatoes, and in the summer season fruits of all kinds, are its 

 prey; but, in consequence of the scratching of the Pheasant in 

 search of many nice morsels, it is soon evident to the gar- 

 dener, who visits his grounds, the knowledge of which leads 

 inevitably to final results. 



It is an easy matter to keep Pheasants in confinement and 

 in good condition, provided the food given them is of a better 

 and more varied kind than what common poultry are fed 

 upon. The variety of food these birds feed on in a wild 

 state renders it an easy matter to supply this want ; but be it 

 well understood, that whatever they are fed with must be of 

 the best kind, or the birds will soon become poor and out of 

 condition. The aviary or yard must also be kept dry, and 

 be as well supplied with sand as with clean water. 



