Practical Game-Preserving. 106 



considerable attraction for pheasants, though for what 

 particular reason it is difficult to determine. The absence 

 of undergrowth in any plantations or woods intended for 

 pheasants is, except in the case of fir-woods, a practically 

 insurmountable objection, and even with a heavy summer 

 growth of bracken, briar, and such-like, directly they die 

 down in the autumn birds will commence to seek fresh 

 quarters. 



These are some of the points and considerations which 

 will make themselves apparent and felt in connection with 

 pheasant-coverts, and must always be provided for or 

 against, as the case may be, when it is sought to improve 

 existing or establish new ones. In the case of park-lands, 

 however, the matter is different, as birds are usually reared 

 where they remain, and accommodate themselves instinc- 

 tively to the nature of their surroundings. Not infrequently 

 a preserve or a beat more usually a small than a large 

 one will lack that cohesion between the coverts which 

 is so necessary in the former case, and often works greatly 

 to the advantage of the shooting in the latter. Thus there 

 may be several woods, &c., lying towards the outer 

 portions of the estate, and possibly no main covert towards 

 the centre; or, on the other hand, there may be relative 

 disproportion between the woods and the open land which 

 it is sought to remedy, or to connect up the coverts one 

 with another when they are too far apart and do not work 

 in well one with another. All or any of these reasons may 

 present themselves from time to time to the preserver and 

 warrant him in planting with a view to future requirements, 

 although the time may prove considerable before he may 

 be able to realise any considerable benefit for his enter- 

 prise. However, for the benefit of any so inclined or 

 compelled, a few hints upon the formation of pheasant- 

 coverts may prove useful as a guide to the work. 



