tj Pheasants. 



course, in the case of later-hatched broods, the poults are 

 correspondingly backward. 



The natural food of the pheasant is of great variety, and 

 consists during the spring-time of the year mainly of plants 

 of a succulent nature, roots of various kinds, and numbers 

 of insects of many sorts. During the summer months the 

 cornfields provide a great deal of its sustenance. In 

 autumn and winter it is, perforce, obliged to vary its diet 

 with acorns, beech-mast, hazel-nuts, haws, the red fruits 

 of the wild rose and of the hawthorn respectively, any 

 description of corn obtainable, besides the seeds of a 

 quantity of plants as varied as are the insects it consumes 

 in spring, summer, and a portion of the autumn. 



Any further insight into the natural history of the 

 pheasant must be gained by actual observation. The short 

 outline given of its daily and yearly existence should form 

 a foundation whereon to build up a thorough knowledge of 

 its habits. 



There are associated with the Old English or Dark- 

 necked and the Chinese or Ring-necked Pheasants in 

 British coverts quite a number of other species, some of 

 which have come into almost general adoption for purposes 

 of crossing, or as additions to the ordinary breeds. Of 

 these the Japanese Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) has 

 already made its mark in our preserves, and may be 

 referred to in some detail here ; but I shall devote further 

 attention presently to the consideration of those new 

 species most suitable for introduction in our coverts. 

 Meantime, it will suffice to say of the Japanese Pheasant 

 that it is extremely beautiful, hardy, and remark- 

 ably prolific, especially when crossed with the ordinary 

 varieties. It is not necessary to differentiate largely 

 between either of the commoner species and this one 

 as regards their habits or their treatment, beyond the 



