RUFFED HEATHCOCX. 
the spring; but, how long their eggs are hatch- 
ing, I cannot say : probably, it is three weeks, 
the time that a Dunghill Hen sits, I have 
found their nests, when a boy ; and have en- 
deavoured to take the old Pheasant, but never 
could succeed. She would let me almost put 
my hand on her, before she would quit her 
nest; then, by artifice, she would draw me ofF 
from her eggs, by fluttering just before me for 
a hundred paces or more : so that I have been 
in constant hopes of taking her. They leave 
their nests as soon as they are hatched ; and, I 
believe, they live at first on ants, small worms, 
Sec. When they are a few days old, they hide 
themselves so artfully among the leaves, that 
it is difficult to find them. As they grow up, 
they feed on various berries, fruits, and grain, 
of the country; grapes they likewise are fond 
of, in the season: but the Pheasant is more, 
particularly fond of the ivy-beiTy. I do .not 
know any other animal that feeds on these 
l)erries: I know, they are poison to many. 
Though the Pheasant hatches many young at 
a time, and often sits twice a year, the gi'eat 
number of Hawks, in Maryland, feeding on 
them, prevents their increasing fast. The 
beating 
